U of S doctor advises against large gatherings this holiday season

Families and friends eager to get together after another trying pandemic year should be cautious about doing so, according to University of Saskatchewan clinical microbiologist Dr. Joseph Blondeau.

Unlike last December, this year there are no public health orders in place preventing public or private gatherings. Masking in indoor public spaces and proof of vaccination remain the two rules in place until at least the end of next month.

But with COVID-19 Omicron cases spreading in Canada and around the world, and the Delta variant still dominant in this province, Blondeau said we should rethink our holiday plans if they involve large gatherings.

“The sad reality is, we need to continue to restrict the size of our bubbles,” he told Saskatchewan Afternoon. “I think if you have plans this year for a big holiday gathering … you might want to reconsider that for two reasons.”

First, he said Omicron is spreading quickly in places where it already exists, and we don’t know whether there’s going to be a burst of cases in Saskatchewan. Second, the Delta variant is continuing to spread, especially in the unvaccinated population.

“I personally don’t feel there’s any harm in asking folks who you may be inviting into your home, including family members, whether they’re vaccinated. And then use that to help make your decisions about who you might want to gather with as well,” he added.

Having some rapid tests on hand is also a good idea.

“In having those tests, though, you have to be bound to the results. So if you test positive, you have to accept that as a positive and you have to take the necessary precautions that are associated with that,” he explained.

He cautioned there are still many “unknowns” about the Omicron variant.

So far, he said it appears as though it’s much more contagious than any previous variant, but infections may not be as serious in some people. However, much more information is still needed.

“We’re still waiting for data to get released after it’s collected and analyzed, and so this could change almost on a daily basis,” Blondeau said.

According to the most recent information, he said double or triple vaccination can still protect against severe disease and hospitalization. And the “usual” measures like proper masking, distancing, and frequent hand-washing will remain important practices in the coming weeks.