We Need to Talk About Thanksgiving

We need to talk about Thanksgiving so everyone has a better idea on how to celebrate the holiday safely this year.

According to today.com, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidelines for celebrating the holiday during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CDC's considerations include avoiding travel, large gatherings and even drinking alcohol, since it can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors.

Let's take a look at the CDC's guidelines for a safe celebration:

1. Avoid Travel. It's best to avoid travel, if possible, to lower the risk for getting and transmitting the virus.

2. Stay home. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others.

3. Wear masks. Wear masks to the extent you can. The lowest level of risk is limiting your gathering to the unit you're sheltering with already.

4. Small gathering. The gatherings we hold in November are going to be almost entirely indoors. Thanksgiving may involve people staying overnight in close quarters. It's particularly important to be cautious if you're going to be involved in multi generational family gatherings. (Today.com)

The Centers for Disease Control has assessed the lower risk level for Thanksgiving activities:

1. Small dinner with the people in your household.

2. A virtual dinner with family and friends.

3. Watching sports events, parades and movies at home.

4. Shopping online rather than in person on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

There are many ways to celebrate without putting yourself or others at risk. To lower the risk for getting and transmitting the virus, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. (Today.com)