The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance Thursday that advises Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving, warning that travel could increase the spread of the virus.
What’s going on?
The CDC said Thanksgiving should only include people within your household when possible.
- A household is defined as anyone who has been living in your home for past 14 days.
- This would exclude college students or older relatives who are traveling home for the holidays.
The CDC said anyone with symptoms should not travel as well, and it’s important to talk with your family about the potential risks.
Key quotes:
“Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year,” the CDC says.
“Celebrating virtually or with the people you live with is the safest choice this Thanksgiving,” according to the CDC.
How to stay safe
The CDC has some quick tips on how to make Thanksgiving Day safer for everyone, including:
- Wear a mask.
- Stay 6 feet away from others who don’t live with you.
- Wash your hands.
Other Thanksgiving tips
Experts advised people to quarantine for 14 days before traveling on Thanksgiving, as I wrote about for the Deseret News. The suggested date to start the quarantine was Nov. 12, since that is two weeks before the annual holiday.
- “The two-week quarantine time frame is called for because that’s the length of the virus’ incubation period — that is, the time from when a person is exposed to when symptoms develop,” according to NBC News.
You may want to get tested before traveling, too. However, it’s important to remember that a negative COVID-19 test does not mean you don’t have the coronavirus.