Thanksgiving is a longstanding tradition dating back to 1621. Since then, Thanksgiving has been celebrated every year, bringing together families and friends to appreciate everything that they have and indulge in a feast. So how will COVID-19 affect this annual celebration?
The CDC is continually assessing infection rates in certain areas and regulating the amount of people that can attend a gathering (phillytrb.com). This means that celebrating Thanksgiving with extended family and friends like normal may not be advised. The Director of the National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Disease, Dr. Fauci, says that, “Some people in this country are going to be able to have a relatively normal type of a Thanksgiving, but in other areas of the country, it’s going to be, ‘You better hold off and maybe just have immediate family, and make sure you do it in a way that people wear masks, and you don’t have large crowds of people’” (phillytrb.com).
Although no one wants to hear that they cannot see their family and friends in person, or have to alter their Thanksgiving traditions, precautions should be taken to ensure the safety of everyone. Even though Thanksgiving will be different this year, we can still partake in our annual traditions in an alternative way. Try video calling friends and relatives and connecting online. Although it is not optimal, it is a better alternative than not seeing your loved ones at all.
Aside from regulating the guests at your annual Thanksgiving feast, the CDC has also made other guidelines. Some of these include avoiding the grocery store at busy times, not attending crowded events, not traveling, and not participating in in-person Black Friday shopping (goodhousekeeping.com). The grocery store will likely be crowded before and on Thanksgiving, so try and get your grocery shopping done beforehand. Instead of attending a turkey trot or a crowded event, go on a run with your family and watch events on TV. Try searching for Black Friday deals online instead of the usual in-person.
Even though Thanksgiving this year will probably not be what we all hoped it would be, there is still so much to be thankful for. Enjoy time with your family and eat lots
