Celebrating New Year’s Eve safely in Pittsburgh despite COVID-19 surge

PITTSBURGH — How can we celebrate New Year’s Eve safely?

It’s something so many of us are wondering as we head into the big day.

We took your questions directly to local doctors at AHN.

Allegheny Health Network’s internal medicine doctor Brian Lamb did not mince words when it comes to how you can ring in the New Year. “This is one of those Catch-22s. The only truly safe way to celebrate is if you’ve been vaccinated,” said Dr. Lamb.

With 2022 around the corner — he says the transmission rate is reaching an alarming pace.

“We are in the midst of another surge. The numbers are going up,” said Lamb.

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, suggested staying away from large-scale New Year’s Eve gatherings.

In particular, gatherings where you don’t know who is vaccinated and boosted.

Dr. Lamb agrees.

He suggested staying at home.

“If you’ve been vaccinated and you’ve had your booster, it’s OK to have a small get-together with other people who have been vaccinated,” said Dr. Lamb.

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Major cities like New York have scaled back celebrations and limited crowd capacity.

However, here in Pittsburgh, it’s full steam ahead with quite a few modifications.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s family-friendly “First Night” in downtown will be free and mainly outdoors.

Everyone is asked to mask up and vaccination cards are required for the indoor venues.

Most of the performances are happening outside.

It’s something Dr. Lamb applauds.

“If you’re gonna be outdoors, the outdoor activities are probably gonna be safe because you are going to be out. Again — shy away from people. Six feet!”

Dr. Lamb says he understands the frustrations over canceling plans, but if we do our part, it will be all worth it in the long term.

“We have to keep focusing on that big prize, which is to the point where we can safely get together in the future and not have to worry,” said Dr. Lamb.

Dr. Lamb also says you can now get tested two to three days after exposure because of how quickly omicron is spreading.

You can find testing locations here.