Last year at this time, we were socially distancing, waiting for vaccines to be tested and cancelling any large groups and family get togethers. By mid-December of last year COVID infections were spiking, in part due to people being infected during the Thanksgiving weekend and cases spiking two weeks after the holiday.
Thanksgiving is all about the sharing of food - so masks aren't practical. When we sit down to break bread this year on November 25th, hopefully the table will be filled with more family and friends, but we aren't out of the woods just yet.
Here are three guidelines for this year:
Ask your guests to be vaccinated. According to the CDC, "Vaccines continue to reduce a person’s risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19, including this variant (Delta). Vaccines are highly effective against severe illness".
If guests are traveling from out of town, make sure the infection rates aren't spiking in that community and that your guests have gotten a COVID test. Airlines and public transportation are still advising mask wearing, regardless of your vaccination status, and people can still get infected and not know it.
Consider limiting your guest list. If you look at the overall statistics, last year COVID spiked following the holidays, cases trended down during the summer, then spiked again when schools started opening. It stands to reason, the more people in close quarters inside, the more chance of infection, so err on the side of caution.
One day our holidays will return to big celebrations, but until then, we will have to adapt to the new normal. For now, let's focus on all of our blessings - we're here, we're alive and we can break bread with those we love - all things to be truly thankful for.
"When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is
that I am thankful I have a cup.”
Sam Lefkowitz