“Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” — Marie Curie
CDC and other federal, state and local public health officials strongly advise Americans to avoid Thanksgiving holiday travel and gatherings. They warn of increase risk of spreading COVID-19.
“The tragedy that could happen is that one of your family members is coming to this family gathering and they could end up severely ill, hospitalized or dying. And we don’t want that to happen,” Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC’s COVID-19 incident manager said. “These times are tough, it’s been a long outbreak, almost 11 months, and we understand people are tired.”
Yet, many Americans are ignoring the warnings against travel during the Thanksgiving period. While the number of Americans traveling by air over the past several days was down dramatically from the same time last year, many pressed ahead with their holiday plans amid skyrocketing hospitalizations and confirmed infections across the U.S. Essentially, many Americans have grown weary of more than eight months of social distancing and determined to spend time with loved ones.
The Transportation Security Administration reported that more than 1 million people went through security checkpoints Sunday, the most since mid-March.
The CDC has urged people not to travel for Thanksgiving amid recent outbreaks of coronavirus cases. https://t.co/C47KBl5xor
— NPR (@NPR) November 24, 2020
If you decide to travel or gather, there are a few Thanksgiving gathering safety tips you can take to manage risk to yourself and others. The CDC recommends:
- Bringing your own food, drinks, plates, cups and utensils
- Avoiding passing by areas where food is being prepared, such as the kitchen
- Using single-use options, like salad dressing and condiment packets
- Using disposable items like food containers, plates and utensils.
Here are 7 things you can do this Thanksgiving to stay safe help prevent a dangerous post-holiday Covid-19 spike. (via @CNBCMakeIt) https://t.co/WJHhQx7aoE
— CNBC (@CNBC) November 23, 2020
Attitude of Gratitude
During the current COVID-19 pandemic, it’s tough to take a moment to express how thankful and to express gratitude you are for life’s many blessings. All too often, there are never enough minutes in the day for all of your family obligations. And this past year, you’ve had more than your fair share of stress and challenges created by the pandemic and lockdowns.
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
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