Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
This Thanksgiving please remember to give thanks for all that we have. While times may be difficult in many ways and for many reasons, we are all very fortunate in so many ways.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Some advice on celebrating safely from the New York Times: Coronavirus infections are inching up again, particularly in colder parts of the country. Roughly 100 million Americans have yet to receive a single dose of the coronavirus vaccine. And holiday travel — which officials expect to approach 2019 levels — could send cases skyrocketing, as it did last year.
Still, most public health experts agree that it’s OK to make Thanksgiving and other holiday plans with your favorite people, as long as you’re taking precautions. It’s important to celebrate with the people we love.
“Holidays are so important; they have meaning,” Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told my colleague Tara Parker-Pope. “People have been isolated and fearful for almost two years.”
To help you make your decision on holiday gatherings, check out this quiz, which Tara created to help families celebrate safely.
“This is a judgment-free guide to help you lower risk and worry less, no matter what situation you find yourself in,” Tara wrote in the Well newsletter.
Whether you’re traveling or staying put, hosting a big dinner or heading to a cousin’s house, there are ways to lower risk. Here are a few tips:
If your family is fully vaccinated, Tara writes, Happy Vaxgiving! You’re well protected with vaccines and boosters.
- If you’re all fully vaccinated but celebrating with someone at high risk, Happy Vaxgiving! But maybe also consider traveling to your high-risk friends and relatives to minimize their risk. Always try to plan around the most vulnerable person.
- If the adults are fully vaccinated but the kids are not, Happy Vaxgiving! The risk goes down greatly when all eligible adults and teenagers are vaccinated. Partially vaccinated children will have some protection, and younger kids are largely protected if they’re surrounded by vaccinated people.
- If not all adults are fully vaccinated, you may be dealing with some difficult conversations this year. There are still ways to enjoy Thanksgiving, especially if you take precautions. If you decide to celebrate together, focus on agreeing to safety and mitigation strategies instead of arguing about vaccines.
For all families, here are more suggestions and precautions for the holiday:
- If you’re traveling, upgrade to a protective mask, like a KN-95, to keep germs at bay.
- On-the-spot rapid tests are easy to get and pretty reliable, and they can alleviate tension and worry.
- Improve ventilation with fans and open windows. Or, if the weather is warm enough, consider an outdoor gathering.
- Check case rates in your area. If hospitals are filling up and Covid is surging, maybe change your gathering spot to a lower-risk part of the country.
- Anyone with the sniffles or a cough should stay home.