COVID - 19 Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving celebrations will look a little different this year!

Public health officials urge families to keep celebrations small, avoid mixing households and open the windows. - From the NY Times:

It’s been a year of sacrifice, social distancing and skyrocketing stress. Can we at least enjoy Thanksgiving?


In terms of risk, the timing of the Thanksgiving holiday couldn’t be worse. The coronavirus is raging across the country, setting new daily infection records. More than 235,000 Americans have died of Covid-19, and small gatherings are believed to be fueling much of the spread. While public health officials caution against family and friends gathering in homes for the traditional Thanksgiving meal, they know many people plan to spend the holiday together anyway.

The solution? A scaled-back Thanksgiving — with open windows, fewer people and a big serving of precautions.

“You don’t want to be the Grinch that stole Thanksgiving,” said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert. “But this may not be the time to have a big family gathering. That doesn’t mean no one should gather for Thanksgiving. It’s not going to be one size fits all. You’ve got to be careful. It depends on the vulnerability of the people you’re with and your need to protect them.”

If you do decide to invite outside guests, you should take as many precautions as possible. 
Here are additional suggestions to help make your Thanksgiving safer for everyone:
  • Assess the risk
  • Ask your guests to take early precautions
  • Move the dinner outside
  • Reduce the time you spend together
  • Wear masks during downtime
  • Don’t share serving utensils and other items
Together we can stop the spread!

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