How to (safely) celebrate the 2021 Super Bowl

The biggest football game of the year is coming up, but just as things have looked different for the past year because of COVID-19, your celebrations should look different, too.

You love gathering with your family and friends, but with COVID-19 cases still high in New Orleans, now’s not time to let your guard down.

While vaccinations have begun in New Orleans, we know that we have months to go before we’re all vaccinated and able to safely gather again. Let’s stay safe now, so we can get back to celebrating football season the way we love to.

You don’t have to watch the big game without family and friends. Before you decide how to celebrate, check the CDC’s website for updates and follow its guidance. Keeping up with changing COVID-19 guidelines is a challenge worth meeting if it means everyone stays safe.

Host a virtual party

The safest way to celebrate this year is to host a virtual watch party on your favorite online platform. Send fun, digital invitations so your loved ones get excited about attending. Make it festive by decorating the space that will be on camera.

A quick search online yields a lot of inspiration:

• Wear your jersey with your comfy pants—everyone else will be, too.
• Test your connection in advance. We’ve all done virtual meetings this year, and technical glitches aren’t a fun way to kick things off.
• Encourage everyone invited to make football-shaped cookies or their favorite family gumbo recipe. If you don’t feel like cooking, support local businesses by getting curbside takeout or delivery.

Host a backyard tailgate

The weather has been nice enough to host an outdoor gathering, and this is the second safest way to host a Super Bowl party.

Try these ideas:

Set up a TV outside, or better yet, set up a screen and projector, and host a socially distanced outdoor bash.
Have canned beverages at each seat to keep party guests from gathering around a table.
Require all guests to wear face coverings except when eating or drinking.
Limit alcohol intake, as drinking too much can lead to lapsed judgment or carelessness.
Don’t share food. Instead, ask everyone to bring their own favorite tailgate picnic and share the recipes digitally.

Host a small indoor gathering

If you decide to have an indoor gathering, keep it to people in your bubble—members of your household and those outside your household whose behavior you trust. · Ask your guests to get a COVID-19 test in time to receive results before coming over.

• Provide distanced seating for your guests so they can sit apart but still see the game.
• Ensure soap dispensers are full and make hand sanitizer available in any room where party guests will be.
• Offer prepackaged snacks like single servings of popcorn or chips or whole fruits instead in lieu of setting out communal bowls of food.
• Ask all guests to wear a mask or face covering except when eating or drinking.

No matter your Super Bowl plans if you’re celebrating with others follow these CDC guidelines to slow the spread of the virus in our community:

• Wear a mask over both your mouth and nose, and keep it on at all times when not eating or drinking. · Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after eating or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Keep your distance from others (at least 6 feet apart).

Let’s finish this odd football season the best way possible—by staying safe and preventing the spread of COVID-19. Our healthiest days are ahead of us.

Need up-to-date information about COVID-19? Visit lcmchealth.org/coronavirus.