WHEN COVID-19 MEETS THE HOLIDAY SEASON Pulmonologist Gives Tips on What to Do During Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW: Khalilah Gates, MD - Pulmonary and Critical Care Specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital BACKGROUND: Holidays will look and feel different

WHEN COVID-19 MEETS THE HOLIDAY SEASON Pulmonologist Gives Tips on What to Do During Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW: Khalilah Gates, MD - Pulmonary and Critical Care Specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital BACKGROUND: Holidays will look and feel different this year. Though the pandemic will likely prevent parents and kids from swarming the street for Halloween, some families are decorating and keeping their spirits positive. It may be safest to skip this year’s family holiday gathering during Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the decision is a personal one, and there are ways to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission if you choose to forge ahead. Did you know? A face mask is your first line of defense against COVID-19 and it helps protect those around you too. When you talk, cough or sneeze, your respiratory droplets can travel up to 6 feet. Staying 6 feet away from others helps minimize the risk of coming into contact with someone else’s droplets or spreading yours to others. Since COVID-19 can spread through respiratory droplets, eliminating shared dishes can reduce the spread. On Thursday October 22nd, Dr. Khalilah Gates, Pulmonary and Critical Care Specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital will be available to discuss how medical professionals are preparating strategies for the upcoming holiday season and what measures listeners can take. SUGGESTED QUESTIONS: Is it safe to take my kids trick-or-treating the traditional way this year or should we stick to only homes of family and friends? Holiday shopping will look different this year. What advice do you have for those who want to physically shop in stores? Especially on Black Friday? Should people be gathering for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve as normal? If not, what do you recommend? As a medical professional, what’s your biggest fear with the holidays coming up? If a COVID vaccine is available before the holidays, do you recommend people get one? Do you recommend a flu shot? Where can listeners go for more information? For more information please visit www.nm.org/radio MORE ABOUT DR. KHALILAH GATES: Khalilah Gates, MD, is a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr. Gates’ clinical interests include pulmonary infections, COPD, asthma, and sepsis. Her research interests relate to impairment of pulmonary host defense and immune mechanisms which contribute to pu