COLUMBUS  – Although experts say those who are vaccinated can safely gather in small groups, a new national survey by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds many Americans are still very cautious when it comes to holiday parties.

The survey found about half of Americans will ask their guests to wear masks, compared to 67% a year ago, and nearly three-fourths say they will likely only celebrate with members of their household.

“If everyone in attendance is vaccinated and are without major health risks, you can have a safe gathering without a lot of additional precautions,” said Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief quality and patient safety officer at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “With all guests vaccinated, you don’t need to use masks or force the celebration outdoors."

Half of survey respondents said they‘ll ask about guests’ vaccination status, and 46% will require unvaccinated guests to test negative for COVID before attending a gathering.

“If it were me, I would require someone who’s unvaccinated to wear a mask if they were coming to an event that I was holding,” Gonsenhauser said. “Also, I would be interested in knowing if anybody was unvaccinated and unmasked at an event that I was going to attend.”

If you’re traveling for the holidays, it’s also important to check the website of the health department in the area you’re visiting as COVID precautions and mandates change quickly and vary in different states, counties and cities. CDC.gov is also a good resource for the latest information and guidance on safely celebrating the holidays together.