CDC Weighs in on Celebrating a Safe Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time when people travel far and wide to be with their loved ones. But amid the pandemic, the holiday is going to be—in a word—different. Given that travel increases the chances of contracting and spreading the virus, health experts agree that staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others.

To offer some clarity on the subject of celebrating Thanksgiving during these unprecedented times, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has provided some examples about possible ways to celebrate via various activities ranging from low-to-high-risk. Here’s the scoop:

Lower Risk Activities

Enjoy a small dinner only with the people who live in your household.

Prepare traditional family recipes for family and neighbors, especially those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and deliver them in a way that doesn’t involve contact with others.

Host a virtual dinner and share recipes with friends and family.

Shop online rather than in-person the day after Thanksgiving or the next Monday.

Watch sporting events, parades and movies together from home.

Moderate Risk Activities

Have a small dinner outdoors with family and friends who live in your community.

Visit pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced and people are able to maintain social distancing.

Attend a small outdoor sports events with safety precautions in place.

Higher Risk Activities

The CDC recommends avoiding these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:

Going shopping in crowded stores just before, on, or after Thanksgiving.

Participating or being a spectator at a crowded race.

Attending crowded parades.

Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors.

Attending large indoor gatherings with people from outside of your household.

To learn more about the CDC’s guidance about celebrating the holidays safely, click here.