For many, this holiday season will be unlike any in recent memory as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country.
As families sit down for Thanksgiving this week, seats may be empty as many have decided against having large gatherings or travelling to spend the holiday with family and friends.
“Remember, the risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 increases with age,” said Terri Farneti, public health coordinator with Yavapai County Community Health Services. “So, the older the parent or grandparent, the higher the risk. If your relative has an underlying health condition, like diabetes, lung disease, hypertension, or if they are immunosuppressed, that puts them at even higher risk. Before the visit, assess the age and health of the person you are visiting and consider if the trip is worth the risk.”
Like Yavapai County, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending a modified Thanksgiving this year in order to ensure loved ones are around for next year’s holiday season.
If having guests in your home, the CDC urges people to follow steps that everyone can take to make Thanksgiving safer:
■ 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, let in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible. You can use a window fan in one of the open windows to blow air out of the window. This will pull fresh air in through the other 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.
