After the year we’ve had, many of us are probably feeling extra festive this Christmas, and keen to catch up on lost time with family and friends. And while we absolutely deserve to celebrate tomorrow, like everything else this year, we have to do it with COVID in mind.

We asked two infection control experts, Philip Russo and Brett Mitchell, to give us their top tips for hosting a COVID-safe Christmas lunch. Of course, these tips can be applied to any festive gatherings you may be planning over the coming days and weeks.

Their advice includes spacing your guests out across multiple rooms or tables, hosting your gathering outside if possible, and ensuring soap and hand sanitisers are readily available, especially where people are helping themselves to food.

They also offer some COVID-safe tips for a couple of other activities you might enjoy on Christmas day – singing and backyard cricket.

So from all of us at The Conversation, here’s to an enjoyable, but COVID-safe, festive season.

Phoebe Roth

Deputy Editor, Health+Medicine

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Have yourself a merry COVID-safe Christmas: 5 tips for staying healthy this festive season

Philip Russo, Monash University; Brett Mitchell, University of Newcastle

As we approach our first COVID-era Christmas, the way we celebrate this year might need a bit more thought. Here are some tips to keep the festivities with family and friends COVID-safe.

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Gregory Moore, University of Melbourne

In many parts of Australia, the trees are in full flower in December. But once they start you must be quick to catch sight of them, the impressive flower show doesn't last more than a couple of weeks.

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There’s no magic way to boost your energy. But ‘perineum sunning’ isn’t the answer

Gayle Fischer, University of Sydney

There's no evidence perineum sunning is going to give you an energy boost, or deliver any of its other purported benefits.

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