Multiple health officials are expressing concern about what’s to come in terms of COVID-19 cases with Thanksgiving.
What’s going on?
Dr. Anthony Fauci recently told The New York Times that family and social gatherings have become a prominent way for the coronavirus to spread.
- “Which is the reason why the Thanksgiving holiday makes me really nervous,” he said.
Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician in Rhode Island, told The New York Times that Thanksgiving will determine the U.S.’ trajectory for the rest of the year.
- “I hate to be apocalyptic, but it’ll be the day that will determine our trajectory for the rest of the year. If everyone goes to celebrate, we’re screwed. There’s no coming back from that till Jan. 1. It’ll seed hundreds of thousands of infections in a single day.”
What to do:
Experts have been rather clear about people not gathering for Thanksgiving dinner, especially since more small gatherings can lead to the spread.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a new guidance for all Americans to avoid traveling for Thanksgiving or meeting with people outside your household. Doing so might increase the spread of the coronavirus.
The CDC said people should share Thanksgiving with people inside their immediate household, which officials defined as anyone who has been living in your home for the past 14 days, as I wrote about for the Deseret News.
- “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.