The holidays are a perfect time to gather together for festive meals with people you love. Don’t spend the holidays alone in some guest room with a plate of food left outside the door. Take precautions now against COVID-19 and enjoy the holidays with friends and family.
Test before you turkey, tofurkey, ham, or yam
Avoid unwanted surprises at this year’s holiday table by testing for COVID the day of your gathering. This is especially important if you plan on spending time with anyone who could become very sick from COVID, such as an elderly family member or friend, or someone with a weakened immune system.
Get free COVID test kits
Every family should be well equipped with COVID tests this season and we have you covered. Pick up free rapid antigen at-home test kits, along with masks and hand sanitizer, at these Health Department resource hubs:
· Bethany Baptist Church, 5747 Warrington Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19143
· Mi Salud Wellness Center, 200 E. Wyoming Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19120
· Shoppes at La Salle, 5301 Chew Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19138
· Whitman Plaza, 330 W. Oregon Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19148
Resource hubs are open Monday through Friday. While you don’t need an appointment to pick up at-home tests, daily schedules vary at our resource hubs. Visit our testing calendar for timely updates and details.
You can also get free at-home COVID-19 tests through the mail. Starting November 20, every U.S. household is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 test kits. Need help placing your order? Call 800-232-0233. For TTY, call 888-720-7489.
If you have COVID symptoms or you’ve been exposed to COVID, you need to test. Find out all you need to know about when to test and what precautions to take with our isolation and exposure calendar.
Get vaccinated
It’s not too late to get an updated vaccine. The updated COVID-19 vaccine protects against the variants that are currently circulating. It’s the best way to make sure a case of COVID doesn’t turn severe.
Don’t forget flu and RSV, too
Holiday season is also respiratory virus season. If you haven’t gotten this year’s flu shot, now’s the perfect time to do so. If you’re 60 or older, you’re eligible for the respiratory synctial virus (RSV) vaccine, too. Speak with your healthcare provider about getting the vaccines at the same time. Find COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccinations at a location near you.
It’s a bustling and sometimes unpredictable time of the year. Take precautions ahead of time so that you can relax and enjoy the holidays with family and friends.
