covid-19 Thanksgiving guidelines in a pandemic

As Thanksgiving and the holiday season approach rapidly, many public health professionals have united around one message. Expect the festival to look very different this year.

Cases of new coronavirus Rapid increase again nationwideIn line with the cool weather, which made outdoor rallies infeasible in many parts of the country, experts take appropriate precautions as they add out-of-state travel and multi-generational holiday celebrations to their mix. If not, the infection rate can skyrocket.

“It’s a shame because it’s a very sacred part of American tradition and families gather around Thanksgiving, but it’s a risk,” says Anthony S. Forch, America’s premier infectious disease expert. I did.CBS Evening News“During October. 79-year-old Fauci said his three children would never go home for vacation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a similarly cautious approach.To Recently updated guidance“The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to celebrate with family members,” the agency emphasized. This means that out-of-state relatives, non-university kids, and those who don’t live with you probably shouldn’t. Join you at the table. But for those who want to connect with their loved ones this holiday season, we’ve put together some expert advice on how to celebrate without increasing the risk of getting or spreading a deadly virus.

Travel

For a pandemic trip,Level of complexity nail piercingNeil J. Segal, a health policy expert at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health, told The Washington Post in October Dana Hedpes. Therefore, if you need to travel, it is important to plan to reduce the chances of bringing in a coronavirus.

Allow sufficient time for self-quarantine and testing. Recommendations for the duration of self-quarantine vary from expert to expert.Some people say At least a few days May be enough before the trip, but others Proposed 14th For maximum safety.

Before leaving Coronavirus,if you can PCR test, And get negative results. But don’t let one negative test give you a false sense of security. “The test is just a snapshot of time,” said Stephen Morse, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s School of Public Health, Mailman.

Also, depending on how you travel, it is recommended that you perform self-quarantine again after arriving at your destination in case you become infected with a virus on the way. State travel guidelines It also affects quarantine and test planning.

How experts say college students going home for Thanksgiving can avoid “disaster recipes”

Please drive alone if possible. One of the safest ways to travel is recommended by experts to be a single road trip or to drive with someone who is known to be low risk. “If you’re in your car, you’re controlling the exposure,” said Aaron Millstone, an epidemiologist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. When driving, you need to focus on being careful whenever you are outside the car.

You may come into contact with strangers and in some cases prolong it. Travel by plane, train or bus..

Is it safer to fly or drive during a pandemic? Five health professionals will join.

Try traveling during non-peak hours. Flight search data Saturdays and Wednesdays before Thanksgiving can be the busiest days at the airport. Sunday after the holidays is expected to be the most popular return day. If possible, consider a night trip as well.

Best day to avoid crowded Thanksgiving flights, according to booking data

Please be careful about safety. Whenever possible, make sure you follow public health recommendations such as wearing masks, practicing hand hygiene, and social distance, such as while driving, on an airplane, or on a train or bus.

Prepare with an extra face mask, a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol, and a disinfectant wipe. Face shield or goggles It can act as an additional layer of protection.

The CDC also recommends getting a flu shot before traveling.

What to and shouldn’t do on a pandemic vacation trip

Rally

“”This holiday season is different.. Barbara Alexander, president-elect of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, told Post Joel Achenbach in October. “That’s not what I want, but it’s a pandemic we’ve received, so we need to celebrate it in another way.”

Think carefully about the risks. Experts are aware of the emotional sacrifices that can be inflicted on separated families for this year’s vacation. However, they continue to emphasize the importance of a thorough assessment of all the risks that collection may pose to you and your loved ones.

For example, if you live with a person who is likely to develop a serious case of covid-19, a disease caused by the coronavirus, what does the CDC tell you by attending a holiday event? We suggest that you consider what could pose a potential risk. Rochelle Warrensky, head of the Infectious Diseases Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, advised people:Reach for the late satisfaction of the year.. “

“You don’t want to celebrate this year and reduce the number of people at the table next year,” Walensky said.

Keep your guest list small. The smaller the number, the less likely one of the guests will be infected.Ann Interactive map Recently developed by a team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, it shows how the risk of having at least one virus-positive person at an event increases as the rally grows in different locations.

Not only should you not invite people who may have been infected with the coronavirus or feel sick in the last 14 days, but you should also be aware of those who may have been in close contact with the infected person. CDC I recently updated that definition “Thick contact“” Means a person who has been within 6 feet of an infected individual for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.

If possible, arrange outdoor meals. Coronavirus Can spread through small droplets and particles Especially in poorly ventilated indoor spaces, it hangs in the air for a long time.Eating indoors in restaurants and dining with non-family members is rarely recommended, but the CDC Host a small outdoor dinner Moderate risk activity.

Even outdoors, guests must sit at least 6 feet apart, and everyone must wear a mask when not eating or drinking. If more than one household is attending, sit at separate tables at remote locations.

Think carefully Gather in a closed tentWafaa El-Sadr, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at Columbia University, says it could be similar to “creating an indoor dining outdoors.” If you’re considering dining in a tent, consider a tailgate or pop-up tent with two or more open walls.

Do you host Thanksgiving outdoors? Don’t forget the blanket and hand sanitizer.

Stock up on hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies. Place a bottle of hand sanitizer on each table — either one large bottle or a travel-sized bottle for each seat.

Coronavirus Not expected to spread in general The CDC recommends cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched areas and items through contact with contaminated surfaces. Commonly contacted surfaces include tables, doorknobs, countertops, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

Be careful about shared foods. We do not recommend traditional holiday meals or buffet-style setups where the food platter passes around the table.

Limit the number of people in the kitchen and other areas where cooking is taking place, and prevent multiple people from touching the serving spoon. The CDC proposes to appoint guests to bring their own food and drink or to provide food to one person if they plan to share it. The person should clean his hands well and often.

Improves ventilation in indoor spaces. If you eat indoors, open the windows, keep a distance, and keep your mask on when you are not eating or drinking. Consider eating in a large living room space where you can spread more easily. Fans located on outward-facing windows also help with ventilation.

Keep your plans flexible. Given the community’s prevalence, potential exposure, and weather uncertainty, experts say it’s important to stay open-minded and prepared to adapt to what this holiday will look like. I will. Thanksgiving does not have to be celebrated on November 26th.

“Join the party on the day when the forecast looks most forgiving,” said Taryn Williamford, lifestyle director at Apartment Therapy. Told the post Dura Consius. “Everyone works from home. No one goes shopping. You can be flexible about it. The important thing is the gathering and connection of people.”

Virtualize. Set aside that zoom fatigue and host a virtual gathering with friends and family this year.

Koncius interviewed an expert Tips for a successful virtual holiday.. Among them: Consider having a moderator who can make sure everyone is engaged and having fun. If that’s something your family enjoys doing, dress up for that opportunity. Guests can also participate in “shared rituals”, such as sending cocktail ingredients, macaroni and cheese recipes, and studying family history.

“Whatever you can do to make memories, this year is certainly a year of reinventing tradition,” Willifford told Consius.

Thanksgiving is virtualized: how to break new traditions in an ongoing pandemic

food

Reduce your diet. Consider preparing only the thighs, legs, and chest, not the entire turkey. Becky Crystal of the post writes.. Or replace the big bird with a small option such as roast chicken, cornish chicken, ducks, quail. You can also change the traditional side dish by adjusting the size of the cooking pot or focusing on ingredients such as fresh food that you can buy in the amount you need.

“If Thanksgiving was a stressful holiday for you as a cook, this is your amnesty,” cookbook author Cynthia Grover told Crystal. “You can find a way to make it special, but it doesn’t have to be filled with stress, anxiety or anxiety.”

How to host a small Thanksgiving while enjoying your favorite holiday flavors

Try a sheet bread dinner. What is turkey breast roulade with sweet potatoes, green beans and shallot? Harissa turkey legs and poison ivy sweet potatoes. And Persian stuffed Delica squash, broccolini and carrots all in common?They are all Designed to be a whole meal For at least 4 guests that can be made with sheet bread.

Thanksgiving sheet bread plan

Leave room for dessert. Check these out whether you started pandemic baking or not Holiday dessert recipe We offer many classic flavors and ingredients such as pumpkins, apples, pecans and sweet potatoes in a traditional and unexpected way.

“One of the many great things about Thanksgiving desserts is that they can be made in advance,” writes Krystal. “Reduces stress and increases sweetness.”

Our best Thanksgiving dessert recipes, starring pumpkins, apples, pecans, sweet potatoes, cranberries