Coronavirus Christmas Survey: Tell Us Your Plans

NEW YORK CITY – This holiday will not be like those of Christmas past. As the coronavirus surge continues in New York and the death toll nationally grows past 300,000, the advice is to hunker down and celebrate just with members of your household.

Of course, the same advice was given for Thanksgiving - a holiday that then saw millions head to the airports and many more take to the roads.

So Patch wants to know: What are your plans for this coronavirus Christmas? Will you be home alone, or is it worth risking the virus to see the grandkids open their presents?

Bars and restaurants have already been ordered to shut down for indoor service, but the Supreme Court last month lifted restrictions on religious services. St Patrick's Cathedral is planning to livestream its Christmas Eve Mass, though, with the usual lottery for seats being canceled because of the pandemic.

New Yorkers planning to leave the state will be subject to restrictions. While people coming to New York from neighboring states are excluded from the state's travel advisory, anyone traveling to New York from a non-bordering state must self-isolate for two weeks or have proof of a negative coronavirus test.

• For travelers who were out-of-state for more than 24 hours:
  • Travelers must obtain a test within three days of departure before arriving in New York.
  • Travelers must isolate for three days upon arriving in New York.
  • On day four of isolation, travelers must obtain a second COVID-19 test. If both tests comes back negative, the traveler may stop isolating early upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test.
• For travelers who were out-of-state for less than 24 hours:
  • The traveler does not need a test prior to their departure from the other state, and does not need to isolate upon arriving in New York.
  • However, those travelers must fill out the state's traveler form upon entering New York and take a COVID-19 diagnostic test four days after arriving in New York.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued detailed advice on how to limit the spread of the virus during the holiday.

Patch wants to know about how you are planning to celebrate this year. Please take a few minutes to fill out the following survey. Your answers are anonymous.