Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is strongly discouraging traditional holiday gatherings. According to the national public health institute, the COVID-19 epidemic is worsening, and small household gatherings are an important contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases.
To reduce the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 the CDC recommends celebrating virtually or with members of your own household only; defining your household is anyone who currently lives and shares common spaces in your housing unit.
For households that plan to have guests, CDC recommends the following risk reduction tips:
- Have a small outdoor meal with family and friends who live in your community.
- Limit the number of guests.
- Have conversations with guests ahead of time to set expectations for celebrating together.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items between use.
- If celebrating indoors, make sure to open windows.
- Limit the number of people in food preparation areas.
- Have guests bring their own food and drink.
- If sharing food, have one person serve food and use single-use options, like plastic utensils.
