City Issues COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for the Holidays

Pasadena on Tuesday issued local guidance to residents broadsided by a blizzard of news reports about coronavirus safety rules from across the nation.

The Pasadena Public Health Dept. said it is important for families to consider how to celebrate safely in order to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Planning early and identifying safe alternatives to some of the more traditional but risky methods of celebration will be key, officials said.

Health officials listed what they called “safer alternatives” to some of the traditional ways in which holidays are celebrated that are not permitted this year in a 4-page document available below.

Here is the City of Pasadena complete PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE – CELEBRATING HOLIDAYS document

Department officials said in the document that Pasadena residents and their households are allowed to gather with one or two other households as long as the gathering is outside, lasts no more than 2 hours, and everyone wears face coverings and stays at least 6 feet from non-household members.

The guidelines also OK buying and decorating Christmas trees, but tree lots must comply with the Retail establishment protocol and may not have amusement park or carnival-type activities such as rides, face painting, petting zoos, food service, bounce houses or visits with Santa that are closer than six feet.

The guidelines specified that the following are not permitted:

Large gatherings and events are not currently allowed under the Health Officer Order.
Carnivals, amusement parks, festivals, events, or similar activities that cause individuals from different households to gather.
Department store Santa/holiday displays or photo opportunities that do not allow everyone to maintain 6 feet of physical distance from non-household members at all times.
Caroling in commercial or public settings.

Door to door activities, such as residential caroling, are not recommended because it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors and ensure that everyone answering or coming to the door is appropriately masked to prevent disease spread.

City officials discouraged holiday travel, asking Pasadenans to “please re-think your holiday plans and cancel any plans for travel outside the region in the coming weeks.”

For residents with questions, help is available by calling Pasadena’s Citizen Service Center at 626-744-7311.