How the Bay Area was Celebrated in the Coronavirus Outbreak – Times Herald

The American holiday, beloved by large family gatherings, arrived Thursday with the coronavirus pandemic in the worst surge ever.

Around the Bay Area, luxury dining has been reduced to a casual park hangout. Turkish trot, which usually attracts thousands of runners, has turned into family-only jogging. Meal giveaways have become a socially distant issue. However, unlike this season’s vacation, it still brought a sense of remorse to many. Especially during a tough year characterized by pandemics and political unrest.

Stephanie Fster, 43, from San Carlos took her family to Cuesta Park in Mountain View and met her family-in-law on Thursday afternoon. Six adults were chatting in masks, appetizers and dessert smorgas boards spread out on a folding table, and Huster’s two young children were playing nearby.

“I know there are a lot of people at home doing nothing, so at least I’m lucky to be able to meet my family in person,” Foster said. “I felt this was a really safe way to spend time with them and have a meaningful holiday, without the usual wonders.”

The average daily number of coronavirus cases and deaths in California has more than doubled since just two weeks ago. The seven-day infection rate reached a record high again as of Wednesday, with 13,621 new cases per day and more than 500 Californians dying from just COVID-19 this week. The average number of people per day is about 73. Hospitalizations are increasing as well, according to the California Public Health Service, with more COVID-19 cases across the state than at any time since August 6.

The rise convinced many that gathering indoors was not worth the risk. San Francisco-based Martha Shaughnessy, 41, usually spends her vacation with more than 12 relatives scattered around the area, but this year she ordered a Thanksgiving meal from a street restaurant and was close to her. I spent time with my family.

Shaughnessy’s sister had a liver transplant at Thanksgiving 20 years ago, so she decided not to get her family together, given all the health care workers who worked hard during the pandemic. .. Instead, she did FaceTimed with the extended family and planned a virtual board game night on the app Discord.

“The situation has changed dramatically in the last few weeks and we are all ready to put it on our chin,” Shaughnessy said.

As the holidays approached, public health officials’ warnings about traditional diets reached a frenzy. On Wednesday, a group of South Bay officials once again urged people to cancel their Thanksgiving plans in light of the increasing number of cases that disproportionately affected the Latin community.

“Even if you know someone well, they can be COVID positive,” said Cindy Chavez, president of the Santa Clara County Supervisory Board. “You are COVID positive and can cause illness and death in your family. We want the people here to be safe.”

It didn’t stop thousands of people coming and going in the area this week.Travel is expected to decrease by about 13% across the state compared to previous Thanksgiving, but Mineta San Jose International Airport Expect more than 100,000 travelers From November 20th to 30th. San Francisco International has seen about a quarter of the approximately 500,000 travelers normally counted during this period.

Instead of traveling to Los Angeles, Art Panos, a graduate student at Stanford University, stayed on campus to do research and exchanged family time for lab work, sandwiches, and FaceTime calls.

“It’s nice to be with your family, but it’s better to be safe,” Panos said. “Moreover, I think the fact that I’m productive is a kind of good opportunity cost.”

On the other hand, organizations that serve homeless and needy people are preparing for their work with a twist. In Auckland, city councilors, firefighters, and volunteers hand out 500 Thanksgiving meals and personal protective equipment at a drive-through event at Planet Fitness Parking on McArthur Boulevard, plus 500 kits for homeless people and older people. I distributed it to people.

Oakland chef Jose Ortiz, 61, who owns La Perla Puerto Rican Cuisine in the Dimond district, cooks turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy takeaway meals with seven other families last week for about 12 hours each day. Did. Puerto Rican spice, he said with a laugh.

“It feels great. I am very grateful to be here with the community and serve delicious food,” Ortiz said. “When you cook, you cook with love.”

Others have found their own way to give back. In Cupertino, Mark Fisher Colbury met two adult children on the track and raced in the “Virtual” Applied Materials Silicon Valley Key Trot. This is a long-standing family tradition that would not have been the same without Thanksgiving.