christmas celebration during pandemic essay

• Geopolitics
• Environment

Philippines: Christmas In A Pandemic

This photo taken on 7 November, 2020 shows shoppers watching the lighting ceremony of a 60-foot (18.29 metre) tall Christmas tree at the Mall of Asia in Manila. (AFP Photo)

25 December is Christmas Day! In the words of singer Andy Williams, it is the “most wonderful time of the year.” For Christians and Catholics alike, it is one of the most awaited times of the year. It is by far one of the most sacred religious holidays and a worldwide cultural phenomenon especially for Catholics and Christians alike. 

It is believed to be the birth of Jesus of Nazareth and the world has been commemorating and celebrating it for the last two millennia. People from different walks of life around the world have been celebrating it with their countries' respective Christmas traditions and practices. 

However, this year’s Christmas celebration and the whole holiday season will no doubt be different. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pressure on the festive season is higher than expected. Most definitely, the coronavirus pandemic indeed left almost no one, no occasion even Christmas and the holiday season, and no countries – even the most Christmas feast loving country –the Philippines, unaffected. 

Pinoy Xmas In A Pandemic 

Like any other Catholic and Christian country in the world, the Philippines also celebrates Christmas but way longer than any other country in the world. For Filipinos, Christmas is one of the most important holidays. Filipinos love to celebrate Christmas with family, relatives, and friends. It is the time of the year when Filipino families usually reunite and do things together with much fun, vigour, and festivities. 

Also, Filipinos have their own set of iconic Christmas traditions and practices that includes: (1) setting up the “belen”, which is a common nativity scene everywhere in the Philippines and in almost all Filipino households; (2) hanging of “parol,” a Christmas ornament unique to the Philippines on streets, outside the house, in malls, in offices and almost everywhere; (3) attending “simbang gabi (night mass)”; (4) indulging and enjoying two of the most popular and most loved Christmas food treats, “bibingka” and “puto bumbong” (both are variations of rice cakes) after the “simbang gabi”; (5) house to house carolling that starts from the second week of December which both kids and adults enjoy the most; (6) attending the Misa de Gallo (Christmas Eve Mass); (7) then the ultimate Christmas celebration of “Noche Buena” or the so-called “midnight feast,” which for Filipinos is a huge lavish, open house feast and a celebration with family, friends and neighbours, greeting everyone a Merry Christmas, with lots of sp ecial food and delicacies to enjoy; (8) then the gift giving or exchange of gifts as a way of celebrating the season of giving where everyone is just happy to receive and give gifts; and (9) last but not the least is the giving of “pamasko” (wrapped gifts or money) by godparents to their godchildren, which is something children look forward to all season long.  

But in this time of the coronavirus pandemic , Christmas merriments in the Philippines are different, unlike in previous times. Some, if not all the wonderful Christmas traditions and practices have to some extent been compromised. For instance, traditional gatherings with family, friends, and neighbours which is deemed unsafe and risky as it may facilitate the spread of the coronavirus has to some extent been discouraged and shifted online. 

The number of people who can attend “simbang gabi” has been limited as well and even masses have been celebrated online or streamed via various social media platforms just to make sure that Filipinos can still attend masses in the comfort of their homes. 

Likewise, carolling, shopping extravaganzas, and parties are not possible and discouraged, with night-time curfews enforced as one way of ensuring that people will not be roaming the streets but rather will stay in their homes to contain the spread of the deadly virus even during the holiday season. Hence, Filipino Christmas festivities have been to a greater extent low-key, modest, and minimalist. 

Likewise, on top of a ban on social gatherings, restrictions and limitations on church attendance; the economic impact of the coronavirus including the impact of successive natural calamities/disasters that befell the country has also left many Filipinos without work, financially challenged, or broke. 

Hence, all these taken together, one way or the other, are the very reason why Filipinos can’t celebrate Christmas this year like they used to do. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a downer. 

Nevertheless, despite such a forlorn and challenging situation in the Philippines, Filipinos still are determined to have a meaningful and cheerful holiday season ahead of them. They celebrated Christmas day full of joy and happiness in their hearts despite the limitations and restrictions with the fervent hope that the coming year (2021) will be brighter and sunnier than 2020. 

Filipinos to a greater extent will not allow the pandemic to ruin the most important season of the year. Despite quarantine restrictions and financial difficulties , Filipinos will always find ways to have fun and enjoy the holiday season with much hope and vigour with friends and family even if it’s done online. They will make the most of a difficult situation.  

Amid difficulties, they will find time to laugh with friends and family. This is part of the coping mechanisms of Filipinos which makes them strong, buoyant, resilient, and high-spirited people. 

Indeed, despite the pandemic and the various difficulties it has brought to the Philippines and the world at large, most particularly in how Christmas celebrations and festivities have been altered and restricted to some extent, still, the essence of Christmas remains the same. 

Christmas in the time of the pandemic still means giving, loving, and renewed hope that the future will be brighter and better. It still means charity and goodwill towards all humankind especially those who are less fortunate especially now in this time of the pandemic.

The best and most practical gift Filipinos can give to themselves, to their loved ones and friends is the perseverance and discipline to follow the minimum health standards prescribed by the government like social distancing, wearing of face masks, washing of hands, staying at home and not going to crowded places to protect themselves from the deadly coronavirus. 

Indeed, looking after our own and our loved ones and friends’ health and well-being in this time of the pandemic is the most meaningful Christmas gift that one can give to all.

Related Articles:

World Readies For Lockdown Christmas

COVID-19 Impacts In The Philippines

Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy is Professor of Political Science, International Relations, Development Studies, European Studies, SEA and China Studies. She has worked with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other local and international NGOs as a consultant. She is President of Techperformance Corp, an IT-based company in the Philippines.

Tangshan And Xuzhou: China's Treatment Of Women

Myanmar's suu kyi: prisoner of generals, philippines ends china talks for scs exploration, ukraine war an ‘alarm for humanity’: china’s xi, china to tout its governance model at brics summit, wrist-worn trackers detect covid before symptoms, paid content subscribe.

Christmas will be different this year – but it’s important to celebrate together, even online

Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Nottingham Trent University

Disclosure statement

Dr Mhairi Bowe is affiliated with Nottingham Trent University and The British Psychological Society

Nottingham Trent University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

View all partners

There is no doubt that Christmas will be different this year. Lockdowns and distancing guidelines have already curtailed other celebrations, such as Eid and Diwali.

For Christmas, restrictions on social contact are being loosened in the UK. They allow three households to form a bubble for a five-day period. Nevertheless, many people who would normally gather at this time of year will no longer be able to meet.

This does not mean we should abandon our celebrations. Coming together, even remotely or in more intimate groups, allows us to engage in activities relevant to our shared identities. Taking part in shared family and national traditions , such as those practised during religious celebrations, boosts our sense of shared identity, connection, and ultimately wellbeing.

Emotional significance

Before the recent announcement of the relaxing of social distancing around Christmas Day, a survey by the Telegraph revealed that one in four of Britons taking part intended to ignore restrictions in order to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, regardless of the guidance.

These intentions – that appear to prioritise celebrating together above safety – reveal the emotional significance of this occasion for many people.

A growing body of evidence in social psychology has shown that social groups, such as families, friends, colleagues and communities, are essential for health and wellbeing. These groups are central to our sense of self. They provide us with valuable psychological resources , including feelings of belonging and acceptance. They help reduce experiences of stress and provide access to help and support.

Being denied access to these valuable groups at a time of stress places a great psychological burden on members of the public – especially those already experiencing vulnerability. It is perhaps unsurprising that there is a national longing to reconnect to these sources of strength and familiarity.

Shared traditions

As well as being good for us, social groups also help satisfy psychological needs. One of these is the need for continuity . Being part of a group can help with this because it allows people to feel part of something stable and predictable across time and history.

We create and continue the stories of our families, communities and nations by sharing and passing on group culture through shared narratives, treasured belongings, rituals, and traditions.

Religious holidays and celebrations remain at the heart of shared group traditions for many. Even in non-religious communities, events such as Christmas are valued, shaped and shared in families in their own unique ways.

Furthermore, global threats to existence such as the pandemic don’t just affect isolation and loneliness. They also remind us of our own vulnerability and create a sense of concern about our shared future: an experience psychologists call “ collective angst ”.

When faced with such threats , we seek to reaffirm our cultural, national and family identities and gain comfort from the expression of tradition and collective continuity . In particular, enacting these traditions can trigger shared experiences of nostalgia that make us feel connected and revitalised.

The UK government has recognised that spending time with loved ones may be even more important this year and the eased restrictions could allow families to come together again before the difficult winter ahead.

A smaller scale

The evidence does indeed suggest that being together to celebrate well-loved traditions like Christmas may affirm identity and boost wellbeing through these challenging times. However, it is possible to share and enjoy family traditions in smaller household groups.

Recent research suggests this might be a safer option, as being together in extended family groups can lead to increased risk. This is because we tend to feel less vulnerable around people we trust and sense a connection to – such as family members. This experience of connection can increase the likelihood of social contact behaviours that risk potential transmission.

As we move into this unusual festive season, it is encouraging to know that coming together on Skype or Zoom can effectively boost wellbeing just as meeting in person in does, by helping families and communities connect, communicate and support each other.

Those choosing a more restricted or remote festive season can find an abundance of suggestions available for adaptations to usual routines. In 2020, we may find school nativities and religious ceremonies are live-streamed, festive fairs may be replaced by walks to see displays of local Christmas lights, and the after-dinner board games may be temporarily replaced with the virtual family quiz.

So this year, while we strive to maintain the traditions and celebrations that bind us, we may need to think a little more creatively about ways to come together to share our traditional festivities and reap their psychological rewards.

• festive season
• Christmas 2020

University Relations Manager

2024 Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellowships

Head of Research Computing & Data Solutions

Community member RANZCO Education Committee (Volunteer)

Director of STEM

Advertisement

Supported by

Not Home for the Holidays

Liberated by the loss of tradition over the last two years, some are forging their own celebrations — or skipping them altogether.

• Share full article

By Alyson Krueger

In the past, Lexi Ivarsson, a content creator who lives in Boise, Idaho, felt she had limited options for the holidays.

She would pack her four kids, aged 3 to 7, in the car and drive to either her husband’s parents’ house nearby or her family’s house near Provo, Utah. It was a tradition so ingrained, she even saw family members last year for the holidays, in the middle of the pandemic and against the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But this year she decided she’d had enough.

She and her husband, Brendan, don’t share views with his family on almost anything. “Our thoughts on religion and politics and the way we should treat each other and ethics is completely different,” said Ms. Ivarsson, 28. “Sitting down at a table together is hard because of that.”

To get to her parents required a 10-hour drive. “We get along with them, but it’s a big drive to do with little kids,” she said.

So this year she decided to celebrate Thanksgiving sans family. Instead she and her husband invited her best friend and her family over to celebrate (and share the cooking).

“We had such a good time, and there was zero drama to it and zero obligation,” said Ms. Ivarsson. “I think the pandemic shifted something that made us realize if we don’t want to spend time with family, we don’t have to.”

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• Front Public Health

Christmas Festivities and COVID-19: A Foreseeable Risk to Anticipate

Stefania boccia.

1 Section of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

2 Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health - Public Health Area, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy

With almost 75 million cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and over 1,650 million related deaths worldwide, we are approaching the end of an unprecedented year ( 1 ). The certainties with which the population lived until a few months ago have suddenly been disrupted, and just as some European Countries were beginning to adopt more relaxing approaches in containing the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a second wave of COVID-19 forced most of them to return to containment measures. As Christmas festivities' celebrations are approaching, recommendations from experts and policy makers are abounding on the media, stressing the importance of avoiding any mass family gatherings during this period. A communication from the expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has warned about another surge in COVID cases in the US that could follow the Christmas period, alongside the post-Thanksgiving rise, which is still being currently tackled. This discussion is indeed relevant also for the majority of European Countries, including Italy, France, Spain, and Germany, where the debate about possibly lifting containment interventions adopted from October 2020 has been a burning issue for weeks.

What have we learned from SARS-CoV-2 in terms of household transmission and mass gatherings? Most SARS-CoV-2 infections are spreading due to airborne exposure to infected individuals (including pre-symptomatics, who account for 45–50% of positive subjects), situated within 2 m of distance. The transmission is particularly effective when speaking, shouting, singing, and breathing heavily during exercises within closed poorly ventilated spaces. The Center for Disease Control has recently updated its guidance by acknowledging the potential for airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2 beyond the droplets 1 . Instead, although the transmission through fomites (contaminated surfaces) has not been documented yet, it is still considered possible. Properly worn respiratory masks can reduce the respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breaths, thus they should be continued to be adopted in combination with physical distancing, hand hygiene, and adequate ventilation of indoor spaces. A recent report of the European Center for Disease Control recommends that heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, if well-maintained and adapted for use during the COVID-19 pandemic, may have a complementary role in decreasing potential airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 2 . We also know that eating and drinking on-site at locations that offer such options might be important risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 transmission, mainly due to people removing their masks once they are seated 3 .

How do we continue to apply the preventive gold rules for COVID-19 during the coming season's celebrations that, in Europe, are expected to take place in closed spaces because of the winter season? Should we avoid any form of household and mass gatherings indoors and outdoors? These questions are currently at the center of the public debates in the context of the containment measures to undertake in the different EU Countries ( https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03545-1 ). Familial transmission is responsible for around 70% of SARS-CoV-2 transmission when widespread community control measures are in place ( 2 ). We know that household secondary attack rate (SAR) is roughly 27%, which corresponds to a 10 times higher odds of SAR compared to others ( 2 ). In Wuhan, the reproduction number (R) dropped from 3.54 to 1.18 after lockdown and cordon sanitaire but reached 0.51 in 2 weeks when complete isolation of cases outside the home was implemented ( 3 ). Limiting the size of gatherings is a measure to reduce the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 spreading to large number of people. A recent analysis reported that the highest reduction in the effective R is achieved when gatherings are limited to 10 people or less (36%; 16–53%) as opposed to 100 or less (21%; 1–39%) ( 4 ).

The duration for which people stay indoors is also associated with the attack rate, especially when it comes to community gatherings. For example, in March, during a 2.5 h indoor choir practice in Washington where no preventive measures were adopted, the attack rate was 85.2% 4 . Although in most of the EU Countries wearing masks is mandatory in indoor spaces, this aspect might be especially relevant in the context of holiday season celebrations in churches where singing is a common practice. Outdoor gathering events also represent a risky situation. A recent retrospective analysis of the change in COVID-19 incidence rate during the 2-weeks following outdoor mass gatherings in the US reported an average of 1.5-fold increase ( 5 ). In Italy, a large outdoor mass gathering during the UEFA Champions league football match of February 19, followed by extensive celebrations at a time where the first COVID-19 case was not yet detected, is supposed to have contributed to the 567% excess mortality documented in the Bergamo province ( 6 ).

With these considerations in mind, some general recommendations might be considered during the upcoming season celebrations in order to avoid the risk of COVID-19: household gatherings with non-cohabitants should be avoided, especially if elderly people are involved, or the number of participants should be limited according to the available space, to maintain proper physical distance; persons should wear masks and avoid eating at tables if this implies removing masks for prolonged periods of time; elderly people might be seated apart; spaces should be properly ventilated if deemed possible according to the outside temperatures; large outdoor mass gathering should be avoided. Figure 1 reports a map of the different containment measures adopted in the context of Christmas celebrations from selected European Countries and the UK on December 27, 2020.

Containment measures in a selected number of the European countries and the UK during Christmas festivities (details according to the colored countries in the Appendix). Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, United Kingdom: hard lockdown, closure of non-essential shops, only close family members in the same home; Italy: curfew, closure of non-essential shops, no travel between regions, limited number of subjects in the same home, hard lockdown limited to selected days; Spain: curfew, closure of non-essential shops, limited travel between regions, limited number of subjects in the same home; Belgium and Luxembourg: c urfew, limited number of subjects in the same home; France: curfew, closure of non-essential shops, allowed travel between region, limited number of subjects in the same home; Czech Republic: schools and all non-essential shops closed, limits on assembly or movement; Switzerland: e arlier closure of non-essential shops and public places, bars and restaurants closed on Sundays, limited number of subjects in the same home; Portugal: curfew, no limit to subjects (mask required) in the same home for Christmas and travels between regions allowed. Outdoor gatherings limited to six subjects on New Year's eve and no travel between regions.

Although extensive mass vaccination against COVID-19 will start not earlier than mid-2021, we can reasonably assume that the coming season's celebrations will be the last one presenting the COVID-19 pandemic's challenges. In June, the European Commission presented a European strategy to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and deployment of effective and safe vaccines against COVID-19, and it is also committed to ensuring that everyone who needs a vaccine gets it, anywhere in the world and not only at home. As public health professionals, it is time to continue reinforcing the relevance of individual responsibility in containing COVID-19 pandemic also in the coming season' celebrations.

Author Contributions

SB designed and wrote this opinion piece.

Conflict of Interest

The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

1 Available online at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-sars-cov-2.html

2 Available online at: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-systems-covid-19

3 Available online at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6936a5.htm

4 Available online at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6919e6.htm .

Fauci on What COVID Could Look Like One Year From Now

A conversation with the nation’s top infectious-disease doctor as the U.S. braces for another surge

It was bad enough that the Omicron variant shattered hopes of a normal holiday season, or at least what passes for normal in year two of the pandemic. Now it feels like we’re fated to live with COVID-19 in perpetuity, forever worried that when one variant fades, another will quickly take its place, that we’ll never, once and for all, throw out our face masks.

Anthony Fauci is more upbeat. No, we won’t wipe out the coronavirus, but we will reach a point where it’s tamed, he told me in an interview yesterday. Enough people will reach a level of immunity so that trip cancellations, wild stock-market swings, and self-tests won’t dominate our daily lives the way they do now, he believes.

I’ve been talking with Fauci , the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, regularly since the pandemic began. At the time of our first conversation, Donald Trump was president and Fauci was an unexpected pop-culture icon, a trusted voice speaking up for science. Now he works for President Joe Biden, and though he’s no longer a pariah within the White House, he’s a polarizing figure outside it. Right-wing pundits and politicians depict him as an unaccountable bureaucrat bent on curbing America’s freedoms. The Fox News host Jesse Watters spoke at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference yesterday and used lethal imagery to describe how the audience might “ambush” Fauci with questions about research funding that could later be aired as footage on Fox or other conservative platforms. Fauci remains baffled by the hostility: How is he an enemy of freedom by urging Americans to get lifesaving shots?

Our interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Peter Nicholas: Is this the new normal in America? Will we be taking PCR tests and at-home tests next winter?

Anthony Fauci: I do not think it’s going to be the way it is right now. Even with viruses that mutate and change, you reach a steady state where there’s enough infection and/or vaccination in the community that there is enough background immunity that the level of infection is both less in quantity and severe disease.

I don’t think it’s possible that we’re going to eradicate this infection, because we’ve only eradicated one infection in human history, and that’s smallpox. And I don’t think you’re going to eliminate it, because you have to have essentially a universal campaign for vaccination like we did for polio and measles. But what we can do is reach a level of “control” that we can live with—where it doesn’t disrupt society, it doesn’t disrupt the economy, and it doesn’t have us always looking over our shoulder wondering whether we’re going to get infected.

The short answer to your question is: I don’t think by any means we are going to be living with the kind of situation we’re in right now, where everyone is walking around testing themselves and worrying about outbreaks when you go to dinner or a movie. I really don’t see that. I see that there will be persistence of COVID-19, or at least SARS-CoV-2, but there’s not going to be the profound impact that it’s currently having right now in our society. Whether that’s this coming spring and summer or a year from now, I don’t know. But it’s not going to stay the way it is, for sure.

Nicholas: Why is it so difficult to get tested in the U.S. compared with some other countries, and particularly Europe? We’re nearly two years into the pandemic. Shouldn’t we have solved the testing problem by this point?

Fauci: In many respects it is much, much better than it was a year ago, but it still is not at the level that I believe would be optimal. Obviously, if you look at the effort that has been put in over the past year by the administration, it has been substantial. There have been a few billion dollars invested in getting anywhere from 200 million to 500 million tests per month. There are about 10,000 centers that are now going to be giving out totally free tests.

But there is a lot of activity to get to what I hope would be the ultimate endpoint that I’ve been talking about for some time—namely, to flood the system with tests so that anybody can get a point-of-care test anytime you want it. Literally. We’re not there yet.

Read: America is not ready for Omicron

Nicholas: Should the FDA have a different drug-approval process if we’re confronting such a fast-changing, mutating virus?

Fauci: The FDA has come a long way. Looking back to the days of HIV, when it would take years to get a drug approved, with the help of the AIDS activists we changed that dramatically to be commensurate with the challenge of the disease in question. Most recently, the FDA has gotten better and better at that. Obviously, they continue to reevaluate themselves as to whether or not the process is really appropriate for the nature of the challenge you’re facing. They always can do better, but I think they’ve really done a pretty good job.

Nicholas: The Biden administration has laid blame squarely on the unvaccinated. Here’s what the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, Jeff Zients, said last week: “For the unvaccinated, you’re looking at a winter of severe illness and death for yourselves, your families, and the hospitals you may soon overwhelm.” Is blaming people like this the best way to get them to change behavior and get a shot?

Fauci: I didn’t interpret it as blaming. I interpreted it as saying that the most vulnerable by far are going to be the unvaccinated. I think there are going to be plenty of breakthrough infections in people who have been vaccinated—and even some people who have actually been boosted—but the likelihood of their getting severe disease, all other things being equal, is much, much less than the very vulnerable people who are unvaccinated. So I didn’t interpret that as blaming anyone, but warning them to please get vaccinated because you’re very vulnerable.

Nicholas: Why haven’t the Biden administration’s efforts to get more people vaccinated worked? You’ve been on TikTok and social media urging people to get shots. Former presidents have tried. Why aren’t people listening?

Fauci: You’re right. We have not made a major dent in the 50 million or so people who are eligible to be vaccinated who’ve not been vaccinated. We’ve tried trusted messengers; we’ve tried making vaccines very easily available. And yet we’re not where we want to be. And that’s the reason why the administration has had to resort to requirements, a.k.a. mandates. You don’t want to use the word mandate, because it seems to be radioactive. But with requirements, you don’t have any other choice. I wish we could do it in a way that people of their own accord would decide they want to get vaccinated, if not because of their own health but almost as a societal responsibility. You can get infected and not get sick and yet pass it on to somebody else, and that person might be vulnerable enough to get seriously ill.

Read: How Delta beat Biden

Nicholas: How do Biden and Trump differ in their handling of the pandemic response, in your experience?

Fauci: [ Long hard laugh ] Peter, you know the answer to that.

Let me try it so it doesn’t get too controversial when people read it. When you look at it historically, there were many aspects of what came out of the Trump-administration response that really were not aligned with scientific principles. There are very good examples of that: claiming that certain interventions worked when it was only anecdotal; listening to people who had no experience in public health. There were contradictory statements, like when [the former COVID-19 response coordinator] Debbie Birx and I spent a lot of time putting together a program of how we can slow the spread and the next day the president comes out and says, “Liberate Michigan; liberate Virginia.” Those are not things that are productive in getting control of an outbreak.

Whereas now we’re not doing everything perfectly, but there’s a full commitment on the part of the administration to let scientific principles be the sole guide of what we do. Absolutely, the underlying core basis of what we do is all science. And we have a very competent team of people with multiple areas of expertise and interest who every single day struggle together with how we can make things better. There wasn’t that kind of totally organized scientific team. There were a couple of people there who were health people—like Debbie Birx and I, and to some extent [former CDC Director] Bob Redfield—but there wasn’t a real core team literally devoting every minute of every day to it. So there’s a big difference, a really extraordinary difference.

Nicholas: Various conservative critics have targeted you for criticism, saying you’re trampling on people’s liberties. Just within the past couple of hours, I got a note in my inbox from FreedomWorks saying, “Dr. Fauci is an enduring example that liberty once lost is lost forever.” What do you make of such attacks?

Fauci: It’s unfortunate. I certainly don’t like it. Political divisiveness is the enemy of public health. I’m accused of destroying democracy and taking away people’s liberty. Go back over the record. Look at everything I’ve ever said. The only thing I’ve ever said are things to keep people safe and healthy: “Get vaccinated; wear a mask; avoid congregant settings.” So people are saying I’m destroying their liberty? I don’t get that. Maybe someone else does, but I don’t get that.

Nicholas: Is there anything in particular you’ve learned from COVID-19?

Fauci: The lesson is, when you’re dealing with a public-health crisis that involves everyone, don’t let divisiveness get in the way. Call a peace treaty. Call a time-out. Have your political differences ironed out in a different arena. But don’t apply your political differences to public-health principles. That is very, very destructive.

Nicholas: Are you personally gathering with family members outside your household this Christmas? How will you account for Omicron as you celebrate the holidays?

Fauci: Last year, my children, who live in three separate regions of the country, didn’t come in for Christmas. Mostly because they wanted to protect me because of my vulnerability, of my age. But this year it’s different. I’m vaccinated and boosted. My wife is vaccinated and boosted. And my three children are vaccinated and boosted. And they’re all here now; they just came in over the weekend. And they’ll spend the next few days through Christmas. Before they entered the house, they all got tested just to make sure. So they went the extra mile. So I’m going to have a very relaxed, warm family Christmas celebration the way we used to do, literally every year since they were born. We missed one year but we’re back in action.

Nicholas: What do you want for Christmas? What gift would make you smile?

Fauci: I already have the gift. My children are at home.

About the Author

More Stories

Pence 2024?

The Complicated Truth About Trump 2024

How the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Christmas celebrations around the world

Topic: COVID-19

Churches in Beijing abruptly cancelled Christmas Day mass in a last-minute move by authorities to control the spread of coronavirus. ( AP: Ng Han Guan )

Curfews, quarantines and even border closings complicated Christmas celebrations for countless people around the globe but ingenuity, determination and imagination helped keep the day special for many.

Key points:

• Churches in Beijing cancelled Christmas Mass after new cases were confirmed
• The Pope delivered his traditional address virtually
• The elderly struggled to visit friends and family in Spain because of travel restrictions

In Beijing, official churches abruptly cancelled Mass on Christmas Day in a last-minute move, after China's capital was put on high alert following two confirmed COVID-19 cases last week and two new asymptomatic cases on Friday.

Border crossing closures kept thousands of migrants from economically devastated Venezuela who live in Colombia from going home for Christmas.

Those trying to return home for the holidays this year had to turn to smugglers.

Yakelin Tamaure, a nurse who left Venezuela two years ago, won't be going home and said there will be no gifts or new clothes for her two children, aged 10 and 15.

People around the world felt more isolated than ever on a Christmas Eve without family or friends. ( AP: Emilio Morenatti )

"My mother broke her foot and can't walk properly so I'm worried about her," said Ms Tamaure.

"I try to send her money, but it's not the same as being there."

Others successfully crossed borders elsewhere, only to find themselves in quarantine.

For their first Christmas since getting married in March, Nattasuda Anusonadisai and Patrick Kaplin are cooped up in quarantine in a Bangkok hotel room.

It wasn't great fun but they did make sure to get a Christmas tree.

They returned earlier this month from a trip to Canada and the United States.

One condition of entering Thailand is a 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

"The hotel was surprised that we ordered a full-sized Christmas tree but didn't give us too much trouble to bring it in," said Ms Anusonadisai.

But they hadn't ordered enough ornaments, so they put items collected on their travels, like an eagle feather, and, of course, masks.

"We will continue this tradition now, since it's nice to see so many personal memories on the tree," Mr Kaplan said.

'It's Christmask'

Churches in South Korea have ignited clusters of coronavirus infections in densely populated Seoul, along with hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants and prisons.

The 1,241 new daily cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Friday was a record for the country.

Song Ju-hyeon, who is expecting a child in February, said home is the only place she feels safe now.

"It doesn't feel like Christmas anyway, there are no carols being played on the streets," she said.

"It's Christmask," the Daily Nation newspaper declared in Kenya, where a second surge in cases has eased and a brief doctors' strike ended on Christmas Eve.

Curfews and restrictions in some parts of Africa meant many people did not return home for the holidays.

Celebrations were muted in East Africa's commercial hub as overnight church vigils could not be held because of a curfew.

Fewer people also reportedly headed home to see families, which could help limit the spread of the virus to rural communities.

In Paris, members of Notre Dame Cathedral's choir, wearing hard hats and protective suits — not against COVID-19 but for construction conditions in the medieval landmark ravaged by fire in 2019 — sang inside the church for the first time since the blaze.

In a special Christmas Eve concert, accompanied by an acclaimed cellist and a rented organ, the socially distanced singers performed beneath the cathedral's stained-glass windows.

The public was not allowed in and isn't expected to see the interior of Notre Dame until at least 2024.

In Rome, partial lockdown measures kept the faithful from gathering in St. Peter's Square, where in past years tens of thousands would receive a papal blessing and hear the pope's traditional Christmas Day message.

Many people in this elderly residence in Spain didn't celebrate Christmas with relatives to prevent the spread of coronavirus. ( AP: Bernat Armangue )

But they wouldn't have been able to see Pope Francis anyway this year.

In response to a virus resurgence in Italy, the pontiff wasn't appearing on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica this Christmas but opted to deliver his annual address from inside the Apostolic Palace.

Elsewhere, Christmas was a difficult time.

Thousands of drivers were stranded in their trucks at the English port of Dover, lacking the coronavirus tests that France was now demanding.

The elderly, meanwhile, struggled with the virus travel restrictions that kept them from visiting family or friends for the holidays.

"The solitude gets to me these days. I often feel depressed," said Alvaro Puig, an 81-year-old in Spain who spent Christmas Eve eating dinner alone with his pet rabbit.

"These holidays, instead of making me happy, make me sad. I hate them."

• Agri-Commodities
• Asean Economic Community
• Banking & Finance
• Business Sense
• Entrepreneur
• Executive Views
• Export Unlimited
• Harvard Management Update
• Monday Morning
• Mutual Funds
• Stock Market Outlook
• The Integrity Initiative
• Editorial cartoon
• Design&Space
• Digital Life
• 360° Review
• Biodiversity
• Climate Change
• Environment
• Envoys & Expats
• Health & Fitness
• Mission: PHL
• Perspective
• Today in History
• Tony&Nick
• When I Was 25
• Wine & Dine
• Live & In Quarantine
• Bulletin Board
• Public Service
• The Broader Look

Today’s front page, Saturday, September 14, 2024

• Covid-19 Updates
• Photo Gallery

Celebrating Christmas amid the pandemic

• BusinessMirror
• December 23, 2020
• 2 minute read

Covid-19 may have upended life in countries where it unleashed its fury, but it failed to dampen the Christmas spirit in the Philippines, where the yuletide season is celebrated as early as September. While the country remains under quarantine, Filipinos will find a way to celebrate the season and express their love to family and friends through their gifts. Despite the quarantine restrictions aimed at stopping Covid-19 on its tracks, families will still gather around the dinner table and partake of the traditional holiday fare.

Unfortunately, the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the Philippines, based on the latest data released by the Department of Health. The Covid-19 cases added in the DOH’s daily tally have not gone done below 1,000 despite the restrictions imposed by the government. As of December 21, the Philippines has already logged 461,505 cases, of which 23,341 are active.

Hospitals around the country are dealing with these Covid-19 cases, on top of the other health issues of Filipinos—cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. These Covid-19 cases have already exacted a heavy toll on public health since mid-March, when the government first implemented the lockdown to stop the spread of Covid-19. Because they are badly needed in Covid-19 wards, many of our health workers will not be able to spend the holidays with their loved ones this year.

We could help our health workers cope with their increasing workload by avoiding certain practices and by taking things in moderation, such as alcohol and cholesterol-laden food, which could cause heart diseases. We should heed the advice of the DOH to avoid large gatherings and to hold virtual parties instead (See “It’s going to be a virtual Christmas, says DOH,” in the BusinessMirror, November 25, 2020). Overcrowded areas should also be avoided to minimize possible exposure to the virus.

For those who want to cook their Noche Buena, meals should be carefully planned to avoid food waste, and to consider healthy options. Food that is thrown away will usually end up in landfills and produces methane, a greenhouse gas. We also urge restaurants to see to it that members of their kitchen staff are observing safe food handling practices to ensure the quality and safety of their food products.

It is customary for Filipinos to celebrate the holidays with firecrackers or fireworks, but these should be avoided this year. Fireworks and firecrackers, including kwitis, luces, fountain and the prohibited piccolo, injured more than 160 Filipinos who welcomed 2020 (See, “DOH reports sharp drop in fireworks injury as PNP declares zero deaths from stray bullets,” in the BusinessMirror, January 2, 2020). Aside from these injuries, fireworks could cause respiratory diseases and pollute the air.

While merrymaking during the holidays will somehow ease the anxiety brought about by the pandemic, letting our guards down will only bring more suffering and pain, particularly if our loved ones get sick. Throwing caution to the wind at this time will further burden our health-care system, which continues to grapple with rising Covid-19 cases. We do not have to “cancel” Christmas, but the sacrifices we make this year to stay healthy would ensure us of more holiday celebrations after the pandemic is over. Stay safe this Christmas.

Related Topics

Starry, starry night.

• Atty. Dennis Gorecho

Editorial Cartoon December 23, 2020

• BusinessMirror Editorial

Editorial Cartoon September 13, 2024

• September 13, 2024

Enhancing PHL’s innovation future through strategic R&D investment

The Peñafrancia devotion: From the peripheries to the center

• Tito Genova Valiente

Our trajectory towards a stabilized Earth or a hothouse Earth 

• Irish Joy A. Yparraguirre

New Coolray here; Toyota to slash EVs

• Al S. Mendoza

Why is Ramon Ang praying a lot these days?

• Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

Ordering of Gods in ‘Kaos’

Unlocking devt potential: the significance of south-south cooperation in asia-pacific for sustainable progress.

• Jong-Jin Kim
• September 12, 2024

New Thai PM’s reform agenda lacks specifics, economists say

• Suttinee Yuvejwattana / Bloomberg

Canada doubts idea of ‘Asian Nato’ amid diverging interests

• Soo-Hyang Choi | Bloomberg

Editorial Cartoon September 12, 2024

Shameful indictment of the government’s failure to protect the rights of our workers, bad superpower economies.

• John Mangun

Legendary Eraserheads music opened UAAP Season 87

Uaap rock party.

• Tessa Jazmines
• September 11, 2024

China’s unworkable housing rescue math is prolonging crisis

Oil’s fall into $60s widens the runway for the global economy to make a soft landing.

• Craig Stirling & Grant Smith

European firms more wary of investing in China, report says

The art of getting there

• Alexey Rola Cajilig

Editorial Cartoon September 11, 2024

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

• Happiness Program
• Happiness Program For Youth
• Online Meditation and Breath Workshop
• Advanced Meditation Program
• Intuition Process
• Utkarsha Yoga
• Medha Yoga Level 1
• Know Your Child & Know Your Teen
• School Programs
• Sri Sri Yoga 1
• Sri Sri Yoga 2
• Corporate Yoga
• Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
• Wellness Introductory Talk
• Spine Care Introductory Talk
• Wellness Program
• Quit Tobacco program
• Substance user program
• Teachers Training
• Sri Sri Yoga teacher
• Awards and Honours
• Wisdom Videos
• Sudarshan Kriya
• Ashtavakra gita
• Bhakti Sutra
• Bhagavad Gita
• Riddlemethis
• Amazing India
• Tour schedule
• Press Release
• Press Reports
• Sri Sri Yoga Level 1
• Yoga Retreats
• Brief History Yoga
• Patanajali yoga sutra
• Yoga for children yoga
• Yoga for Women
• Yoga for beginners
• Health and wellness
• Get Started Meditation
• Meditation beginners
• Relaxing Music Meditation
• Online Guided Meditation
• Morning Meditation
• Hari Om Meditation
• Aura Meditation
• Full Moon Meditation
• Journey Within Meditation
• Inner Slience Meditation
• Health Tips
• Lifestyle well being
• Relationship
• Lifestyle Happiness
• Sustainable Happiness
• Wisdom Emotions
• Wisdom quotes
• Medha yoga level 1
• Sri Sri Sanskar Kendra
• Sri Sri University
• Gnana Kshetra
• JalTara Project
• River Symposium
• Covid Relief Projects
• Education Projects
• Disaster Projects
• Rural Projects
• Women Empowerment Projects
• Prison Projects
• Peace Initiatives
• Agriculture Project
• Stories of Change Project
• Project Bharat
• Celebration & Events
• Search Programs
• +91-80-67612360
• Find Your Local Center

International

• What are you looking for?

Find Courses

• IN City Centers
• Search Website

Change Country Site

• Change Country Website
• Retreat Centers
• Global Website

Search Courses By Name

Search courses by location, select a retreat center.

• Canada - Montreal
• Germany - Bad Antogast
• India - Bangalore
• USA - Boone, NC

Find an Art of Living Center

• --> --> -->