Washington Post – “…For inspiration, we might look to Nordic countries, where the combination of cold temperatures and shorter days is part of the circle of life. In Stockholm, friends still meet often to take brisk walks in the woods in January, when the sun sets before 3 p.m. “Meeting outdoors, even when it’s cold, is something embedded in our culture,” says Lars-Erik Tindre, public diplomacy counselor at the Swedish Embassy in Washington. “It comes from a very long tradition.” Outside is still safest – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that people do their socializing outside, where the risk of disease spread is far lower. Virus particles disperse more easily, experts note, and it’s easier to maintain social distancing. The CDC this month updated its guidance to warn of airborne virus particles that can be transmitted from more than six feet away — but it notes that such infections usually have happened in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces…In colder weather, a gathering for hot drinks and snacks seems more doable than a linger-all-night multicourse dinner. That also minimizes the risk, Sehgal [Neil Sehgal, assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health] notes. “The shorter duration, the better,” he advises…”

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