Thanksgiving in the time of COVID-19
“ One of American culture’s most cherished traditions is for a mix of young and old people from different households to sit close together and share food in a poorly ventilated space without masks on for an extended period of time. It’s called Thanksgiving.” - The Atlantic
UPDATED NOVEMBER 16 2020:
This year our Thanksgiving table will have a bit more elbow room. My husband and I won’t be flying out to visit my family in California for Thanksgiving this year. The only two who are happy about that fact are my dogs who usually celebrate the holiday at a “doggie spa” near our local airport (which has now unfortunately closed - another casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic). While the pups are happy we will be celebrating at home, my parents are disappointed. Yet they understand why we have made our decision and are thankful that our family is in good health and doing what is necessary to stay that way.
Unfortunately the virus spreads most efficiently between people who gather indoors, in close proximity to talk, laugh, eat or sing, without wearing masks. While it is possible to minimize risk by taking precautions — keeping gatherings small (fewer than 10 people), holding your gathering outdoors, and testing and quarantining before and after travel - low risk is not the same as no risk. And here’s the stickler.
The risk doesn’t just extend to you and those at your Thanksgiving gathering. When it comes to coronavirus the risk is collective. The more people gathering from different households, cities and states, in densely packed dining rooms to eat and talk and occasionally shout, the more likely it is that the coronavirus will spread. And the result could be that these Thanksgiving get-togethers result in a simultaneous spike of the virus across the country putting a strain on local hospitals - a scenario that no amount of careful planning can undo.
So my travel advice for this year is as follows:
1) Check-In. Just because you’re not checking-in at the airport doesn’t mean you can’t check in with family and friends. Make a plan to connect with a phone call, text or video chat
2) Since you won’t be standing in line, celebrate the front-line! Say thank you or show gratitude to food service, pharmacy, health care and other workers who are putting their own safety at risk to provide care and service to others. You can do that by donating PPE to your local hospital, making a food donation to a local foodbank or simply saying “thank you.”
3) Enjoy the holiday - Eat a delicious and healthy Thanksgiving meal. Exercise. Get some quality sleep. Go outside and get some fresh air. Relax with a movie or meditation - whatever works for you.
4) Focus on gratitude. See the silver lining. Count your blessings. Stop to smell the roses. While these read as cliches, the health benefits of practicing gratitude include reducing stress, improving your immune system and lowering your risk of depression and anxiety. Take a few minutes to acknowledge and celebrate a few things you are grateful for - things you enjoy, events you are looking forward to, people and places you love.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Karen