CDC releases guidelines on Thanksgiving festivities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its guidance for participating in Thanksgiving activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CDC said that travel increases the chance of contracting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

Officials at the CDC divided up traditional activities into three categories: lower risk, moderate risk and higher risk.

The CDC said to avoid higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Higher risk activities:

• Shopping in crowded stores right before, on or after Thanksgiving
• Participating in or being a spectator at a crowded race
• Attending crowded parades
• Using alcohol or drugs which “can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors”
• Attending large indoor gatherings with people outside of your household

Moderate risk activities:

• Having a small outdoor dinner with friends or family in your community
• Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples while wearing face masks with social distancing measures in place
• Attending small outdoor sports events with safety precautions

Lower risk activities:

• Having a small dinner with people who live in your household
• Preparing traditional family recipes for family and neighbors and delivering them in a no-contact manner
• Having a virtual dinner and sharing recipes with friends and family
• Shopping online rather than in person on the day after Thanksgiving
• Watching sports events, parades and movies from home