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Thanksgiving is a time when a lot of families and friends travel to see each other, have large dinners, attend parades, watch or play sports, and celebrate together. Many of the activities associated with a traditional Thanksgiving celebration will increase your chances of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Staying home and celebrating safely is the best way to stay healthy, but if you choose to celebrate with others and/or travel please take the time to get informed on the risks. Anyone who is sick should not participate in the activities.
These activities allow you and your family to celebrate safely:
Use caution when engaging in these activities and remember to take preventative measures:
Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:
Thanksgiving is a time when many families travel long distances to celebrate together. Travel increases the chance of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. If you must travel, be informed of the risks involved.
Use information from the following webpages to decide whether to go on holiday travel:
If you decide to travel, follow these safety measures during your trip to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:
Each family will need to decide how much risk they are willing to take when making holiday plans. By looking into the current situation in your community and the community you might be considering travel to you can start evaluating the risk involved and what steps you can take to reduce that risk. You should also consider the health and safety of any family members who have a higher risk for serious illness.
When having this conversation with your family remember to approach others with kindness and empathy. Be transparent about your decision and the reasons that led you to them, and don’t be afraid to address any concerns you may have. Repeat these steps and have frequent conversations with your family about your plans and the expectations that come with any family gathering this holiday season.
Keep a record of everyone who attended your gathering, in case this is needed for contact tracing.
Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or eating is associated with directly spreading COVID-19. It is possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, including food, food packaging, or utensils that have the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. However, this is not thought to be the main way that the virus is spread. Remember, it is always important to follow good hygiene to reduce the risk of illness from common foodborne germs.