Thanksgiving 2020: May Your Holiday Be Happy, Healthy and Safe

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Thanksgiving is the time of year to gather with loved ones. This year is different. COVID-19 is still spreading in our communities and once again health experts are asking us to take precautions to protect our family, friends and neighbors.

Staying at home is the best way to protect you and your loved ones. If you’re looking for ways to celebrate the holiday and wondering about the risks here’s a helpful chart from the CDC.

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*Source: CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#thanksgiving

 

There are other factors you should consider when making your plans:

·      Community levels of COVID-19 – Higher levels of COVID-19 cases and community spread in the gathering location, as well as where attendees are coming from, increase the risk of infection and spread among attendees. Family and friends should consider the number and rate of COVID-19 cases in their community and in the community where they plan to celebrate when considering whether to host or attend a holiday celebration. Information on the number of cases in an area can be found on the area’s health department website.

·      The location of the gathering – Indoor gatherings generally pose more risk than outdoor gatherings. Indoor gatherings with poor ventilation pose more risk than those with good ventilation, such as those with open windows or doors.

·      The duration of the gathering – Gatherings that last longer pose more risk than shorter gatherings.

·      The number of people at the gathering – Gatherings with more people pose more risk than gatherings with fewer people. CDC does not have a limit or recommend a specific number of attendees for gatherings. The size of a holiday gathering should be determined based on the ability to reduce or limit contact between attendees, the risk of spread between attendees, and state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations.

·      The locations attendees are traveling from – Gatherings with attendees who are traveling from different places pose a higher risk than gatherings with attendees who live in the same area. Higher levels of COVID-19 cases and community spread in the gathering location, or where attendees are coming from, increase the risk of infection and spread among attendees.

·      The behaviors of attendees prior to the gathering – Gatherings with attendees who are not adhering to social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart), mask wearing, hand washing, and other prevention behaviors pose more risk than gatherings with attendees who are engaging in these preventative behaviors.

·      The behaviors of attendees during the gathering – Gatherings with more preventive measures in place, such as mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing, pose less risk than gatherings where fewer or no preventive measures are being implemented.

*Source: CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html

It will be hard not to see loved ones this year for the holidays, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We are all in this together and the sacrifices we make today will mean the next time we can be together will truly be special. We wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday season.

Caitlin Blair