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Christmas is just around the corner and one thing is for sure: it won’t be business as usual.
Three experts give their opinion on this year’s Christmas celebration.
– It will be a sad Christmas, says Yngve Gustafson, professor of geriatrics at Umeå University.
With tougher restrictions and several calls from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven that “what we do now will affect what Lucia and the Christmas celebrations will be like, and who will be with us,” you are probably expecting some ordinary Christmas celebrations.
But what should we think about and do to have the safest Christmas possible?
Aftonbladet has asked three experts what they recommend.
Yngve Gustafson, Professor of Geriatrics at Umeå University:
Photograph: WIXTRÖM JIMMY / Aftonbladet / TT NYHETSBYRÅN
Yngve Gustafson.
Can we celebrate together or is it completely over?
– It seems dark. Unfortunately, this is far from over and a classic Christmas celebration is completely impossible for seniors and risk groups. It may be possible to meet your loved ones until Easter, but still I think you have to be very careful.
– I myself turned 70 years old and I have children and grandchildren scattered throughout the country. It really is a shame not to meet them.
How should we reason about the recommendations and our loved ones?
– During this year’s Christmas celebration, it is important to minimize the risk for the elderly and risk groups. If you are celebrating Christmas with an older relative, you, as a close relative, must have lived in quarantine for at least a week prior to your visit. But despite that, it is not possible to have Christmas parties with many people. I strongly recommend not having Christmas dinners with a lot of people gathered. Unfortunately, Lucia’s celebration with the grandchildren can also be canceled this year.
– So it will be a sad Christmas.
Many will probably have to celebrate alone this year. What are the psychological effects?
– Around 80 percent of those over 80 live alone today, so this forced isolation is clearly worse for them than for younger generations and the consequences on their mental well-being will, of course, have an even worse effect during the big vacation.
– For many older people, Christmas is one of the most important events of the year, when children and grandchildren return home. Therefore, the consequences will be dire for those who are already very lonely, and we have already seen an increase in mental illness with depression and depression as a result. Elderly people who have given up and died prematurely because they feel that there is no reason to live. It has never been as serious as now.
What are your tips for a safe Christmas celebration with your loved ones?
– It is not the elderly relatives, that is, a spouse who brought the infection to the nursing homes, but the staff. Therefore, I believe that as a close spouse you should be allowed to visit your family member during Christmas, as long as you have oral protection, follow all hygiene routines and do not hug, although a Christmas hug would be very valuable for the elderly at this time.
– On the other hand, there is a greater risk with children and grandchildren. There you can try to find other ways, such as phone calls or video calls. Even a handwritten letter with photos of children and grandchildren, showing that you long for it is more important now than ever.
Joacim Rocklöv, Professor at the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine at Umeå University:
Photo: Mattias Pettersson
Joacim Rocklöv.
Can we celebrate together or is it completely over?
– Unfortunately, the spread of the infection will likely affect Christmas this year, but with vaccinations, spring looks much brighter and hopefully next Christmas will be business as usual. This year I think we should celebrate in smaller groups and try to get together more outdoors. Many trips and numerous family gatherings have been shown to have an effect on the spread of infection, so it is important to try to reduce this at Christmas. Sad, but that’s it.
How should we reason about the recommendations and our loved ones?
– There will be a balance between loneliness, traditions and the spread of infection. Smaller parties in the form of the immediate family are probably preferable, and if they are larger then outdoors. Of course, we cannot leave people alone, but we must look for other ways, such as zooming, telephone, walks and visits in small groups.
Many will probably have to celebrate alone this year. What are the psychological effects?
– It is important to keep this in mind and try to counteract it in every way we can and which means that we do not expose anyone or ourselves to danger. Clearly there is an important compromise to be made here and I think that many people are doing the best they can in the current situation. But we must try to be creative and find new ways to socialize and counteract loneliness, despite the circumstances.
What are your tips for a safe Christmas celebration with your loved ones?
– It would be great if we could at least be seen in larger groups outdoors, with a hot mulled wine and a walk, for example.
Fredrik Elgh, Professor of Virology at Umeå University:
Photo: Umeå University
Fredrik Elgh.
Can we celebrate together or is it completely over?
– I hope that the measures that have been put in place to stop the spread of the infection will make it possible to reverse the increase that we are experiencing at this time. There are several countries that have been at very high levels but have reversed the curve. The success is due to the strong measures that were put in place a few weeks ago. If they can, we can, but then we have to take in more than we are doing now.
– If we do that, we can have a situation for Christmas that allows us to celebrate with at least a small group of loved ones.
How should we reason about the recommendations and our loved ones?
– It’s a complex issue. When socializing, it is important that there are not so many of us. That we breathe often. That we keep our distance. That we do not hug. That we use mouth guards, especially so as not to infect others if we catch it without having symptoms. Of course, this is especially true when we meet older people.
Many will probably have to celebrate alone this year. What are the psychological effects?
– It’s not funny. And it can lead to long-term mental problems. But pick a good friend or two to celebrate with if possible. And keep in mind that if we take steps now to stop the strong spread of the infection, then we can celebrate Christmas in small groups without the risk of infecting others being as great as now.
What are your tips for a safe Christmas celebration with your loved ones?
– It depends, of course, on the situation we are in then and what we do today. If we do not assimilate more than we do now, I am afraid that the spread of the infection is still so high that it will be difficult to celebrate Christmas with other people than those who live together. However, it is important not to be so many and meet. Take a walk with those who can’t see each other inside and make lots of phone calls and video calls.
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