58 | JUNE 24 • 2021 

H

opefully, Zoom 
birthday celebrations, 
virtual seders and 
drive-thru sukkahs will soon be 
only memories.
After a frightening spring 
COVID surge in Michigan, 
weekly average COVID cases 
have declined to 301 and the 
COVID positive test rate is now 
less than 2%, compared to dou-
ble digits not long ago.
Vaccinations are probably 
responsible for much of this 
progress, but not everyone has 
been vaccinated. COVID is still 
prevalent in Michigan, so health 
authorities urge continued pre-
cautions. 
So, hugs and kisses at crowd-
ed buffet lines are still discour-
aged, but there are ways to 
celebrate that reduce the risk of 
COVID transmission. Outdoor 
celebrations are recommended 
because the possibility of coro-
navirus transmission is much 
less than indoors.
Dr. Dennis 
Cunningham, 
medical direc-
tor for Infection 
Control and 
Infection 
Prevention at 
Henry Ford Health 
System, says, 
“Outside is so much safer, espe-

cially if most guests have been 
vaccinated.
” 
He is “not too worried about 
outdoor events” and plans to 
attend one himself. “Hopefully, 
you can trust people,
” he adds.
However, if multiple house-
holds are included in a party, he 
suggests that young children, 
who are not yet eligible for vac-
cines, wear masks. Since some 
children can’t keep masks on, 
Dr. Cunningham says that it 
may be best not to include these 
kids.
Regarding food service, Dr. 
Cunningham says that food 
handling is not a major trans-
mission source for COVID. 
However, buffet lines bring peo-
ple close together and potential-
ly increase the chance of virus 
spread.
Sharona Shapiro, West 
Bloomfield community activist, 
volunteer and 
frequent cook and 
hostess, says that 
“visual messaging” 
is important. She 
is planning an 
anniversary party 
with a small group 
of vaccinated 
friends outdoors at a friend’s 
lakeside home.
Instead of a buffet or fami-
ly-style food service, Shapiro 

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Celebrations retool as COVID 
restrictions loosen.

Celebrate 
Safely

Individually served meals are safer than buffet lines.

HEIRLOOM INSTAGRAM

Dr. Dennis 
Cunningham

Sharona 
Shapiro