Tulsa Health Department Provides COVID Safety Advice This Christmas

The Tulsa Health Department is asking the public to do their part in preventing another holiday COVID-19 spike ahead of Christmas.

THD says the biggest issue is people gathering like they normally would during Christmas. Dr. Bruce Dart, executive director of the Tulsa Health Department says that behavior paired with the false sense of security people sometimes get around family could be trouble.

"As opportunistic as this virus is, we give it any opportunity to move from person to person or community to community, it's going to take it. So these recommendations will hopefully mitigate the potential for transmission," he said.

Dr. Dart says many people wear masks during a grocery run or around town, but they may be tempted to remove them when around family.

"We can't ignore this virus. We can't act like it's not there. We can't act like, 'Well it's okay I'm not exposed.' No one knows," he said.

The simple solution to the problem is to keep masks on or avoid gatherings in the first place.

"What we're really concerned about is large, in-person gatherings where it's really difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least six feet apart," Dr. Dart said.

"If you're going to have gatherings, which we'd rather you didn't, of course, the lowest risk is to have a virtual gathering which is what I plan to do with my family."

Dr. Dart says another middle-ground option would be to spend as much time outdoors as possible if the weather is nice.

"The choices you're making are either decreasing or increasing the probability that you'll be exposed," he said.

"And we want everyone to have as low a probability as possible."