What is safe and what not to enjoy this 4th of July in the midst of the pandemic?

Covid-19 reduces July 4 celebration in Washington 2:01

(CNN) –– It's here on July 4th, and although most of us are used to spending the day at the beach or at the pool with friends, this year the celebration will be a little different.

The coronavirus pandemic has not stopped, and numbers have skyrocketed in the three most populous states in the United States, which set records for new coronavirus cases.

• LOOK: Fireworks and hand sanitizer can be a dangerous combination this July 4

And while this does not necessarily mean canceling your plans for this day, there are steps you can take if you want to stay healthy and care for others this holiday weekend:

Go to a restaurant or cafe

Restaurants and bars across the country have reopened to the public. While that option exists, it is important to know that eating out will increase your risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

If you still decide to eat in a restaurant or cafe to celebrate the 4th of July, there are some precautions you can take.

You should sit at a table at least 2 meters away from the others. While this will not completely eliminate the risk of infection - fans and air conditioning may allow respiratory particles from someone's sneeze or cough to travel more - it will create some distance from other customers.

It is better to go to restaurants that force their employees to wear face masks. While that adds a layer of protection, there is still the risk of other customers being unable to wear masks while eating and talking.

Another tip is to visit places that offer free contact menus that you can access from the phone, which have tables surrounded by protective barriers, such as Plexiglas or screens.

Also, eating outdoors is safer than eating indoors. Maintaining eye protection through glasses, and the intermittent use of face masks between bites and sips would also decrease the risk of infection.

• READ: This experiment shows how quickly a virus like covid-19 can spread in a restaurant

It is important to remember that the longer someone is exposed to an infected person, the greater the risk, so it is also a good idea to spend as little time as possible in the restaurant.

Reserve a rental house or cabin

Although a holiday weekend can mean an overnight trip or a getaway, in the midst of a pandemic many people are concerned about the risk of staying in a hotel room, rental house, or cabin in the woods.

The guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is clear that traveling increases your chances of getting or spreading covid-19. However, many hotels and rental companies have established new sanitation rules and procedures.

No matter what type of stay you are planning, the main concern is to come into close contact (less than 2 meters) with an infected person who may or may not have symptoms.

Another tip is to minimize your contact with surfaces - tables, chairs, sinks, covers - that have not been cleaned or disinfected.

Use a facial covering and practice social distancing in common areas. Minimize time in closed and less ventilated spaces, such as elevators. Also avoid touching “high contact” surfaces in shared spaces, such as the elevator button, door handles, and dining tables and chairs.

Go to a beach or pool

It is July and the summer heat can be brutal. Is there anything better than playing on the beach or jumping into the pool?

Since it is considered that the risk of infection is less outdoors, where the wind helps to expel the virus, you can have fun without fear, as long as you maintain social distancing measures.

Before leaving, it is a good idea to find out if the pool or beach you are going to implements security protocols, such as social distancing rules or restrictions on the number of people who have access at the same time. If it turns out that the beach or pool is too crowded to keep at least 2 meters away from other people all the time, it may be safer to postpone the trip for another day.

Bring your own sanitizing wipes to clean shared chairs or pool toys, and wear a face mask when you're not in the water.

Whether you are in or out of the water, you remain at a distance from others. Don't swim close enough to other people to come into contact with their saliva or breath.

Also don't blow your nose or spit in the pool or near another person. If you can, get out of the water and use a tissue to cough or sneeze, then wash your hands.

Planning a barbecue

Depending on the state, there may be regulations and limits on how many people can attend a social gathering.

Remember that the more people are in contact with you, the greater the risk of becoming infected. If you're going to invite friends or family with whom you haven't isolated yourself, there are a few precautions you can take to make your cookout safer.

One tip is for everyone to bring their own food and plastic utensils, this means there will be no shared bowl of potato chips. Hot dogs and hamburgers should go directly from the grill to a person's plate, not to a large tray of food. Different households should sit together, separated from each other.

If you have a lot of people going to attend, it is also a good idea to wear a face mask.

If guests have no choice but to come into your house to use the bathroom, make sure all doors leading to the sink are open so no one should touch any other handle. Ask guests to use a piece of tissue to open and close the bathroom door, and remind them to close the toilet lid before flushing it down.

Fly out of state where you live

For anyone traveling out of state this holiday weekend, things will be very different from before the pandemic. If you are heading to the airport, you can take several precautions to make your trip safe.

• READ: Traveling in the era of the coronavirus: these are the new global security protocols

Before you arrive, pack a hand sanitizer and use it to clean your hands as often as possible during your trip. Going through ticket windows and security checks, try to touch as few surfaces as possible and wear a mask at all times.

Once you are inside and head to your gate, avoid crowded areas. If you have time, don't use the train that transports passengers between terminals and opt to walk.

On the plane, you can try choosing a window seat, which could reduce your exposure to passengers walking down the aisle. Then turn on the device that shoots cold air into your seat, as high as it can go.

Go camping

This is usually the time when campers are booming - from backpackers to people traveling in a motorhome - but this year, state and national parks across the United States have been closed.

As things begin to reopen, many people are considering going camping this holiday weekend. If that's part of your plan, here are some tips you can take to stay safe.

The best idea is to find a camp that has few people - or no one else - around you. If there are other campers near you, always maintain social distance and wear a mask. Set up your camp - including areas for sleeping, eating and making bonfires - so that you are as far away as possible from nearby camps that house people from different households.

• READ: Social distancing measures have saved millions of lives

Bring your own soap, surface disinfectants, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and toilet paper. Avoid contact sports, like outdoor basketball courts.

Unlike hotels or rental houses, camps generally only have shared bathrooms that can expose you to an increased risk of transmission. Avoid touching as many surfaces as possible and use a handkerchief or washcloth to open stalls or doors. Close the toilet seat when flushing and immediately wash your hands after touching any surface.

Observe fireworks in the park

Fireworks are possibly the best part of July 4th. But this year, gathering in the park or on the beach to see these incredible shows is more dangerous than usual.

Staying home and lighting your own fireworks if you live in a state where that is allowed and you also have the space to do so is probably the best idea. But if you prefer to go to the park or the beach to observe them, there are some steps that you must follow to stay safe.

As always, wear a mask when you are around people. Maintain social distance and avoid going if the place is too crowded. Bring your own chairs or blankets, and wash your hands if you touch any type of shared surface.

Although this may seem a little different than usual, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the holiday weekend with friends and family. Just stay safe, not just for yourself, but for everyone around you.

Thomas A. Russo, Elizabeth Marder, Paloma Beamer, Scottie Andrew, Adrienne Vogt, Josiah Ryan and Forrest Brown, all from CNN, contributed to this report.

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