This year has been an emotional rollercoaster and the holidays are no different. On the one hand, there is good news that vaccine trials have gone well. On the downside, there are record numbers of COVID-19 cases around the country. Several cities have already started to limit the number of places that are open to once again try and slow the spread of COVID. The CDC has suggested staying home for Thanksgiving, but people miss their families and want to spend time together during the holidays, without putting anyone at risk. So if you are on the fence about traveling, here are some things to consider. Research the states you would be flying or driving to or from. Check restriction for the states & counties you are visiting. For example, Chicago just issued a 30-day stay at home order & are limiting gatherings to 10 people.
For those who are considering traveling to see friends and family as 2020 comes to a close, there is a COVID-19 risk assessment planning tool that can help you make your decision.
Researchers from the Stanford University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory have created the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Planning Tool, which “shows the risk level of attending an event, given the event size and location,”
The tool, which is updated daily, can be found at https://covid19risk.biosci.gatech.edu.
The “USA Risk Estimates by County” map we feel is the easiest to navigate. A user can use a slider to select the size of the gathering they are attending in that county, ranging from 10 to 5,000 people, and the level of bias they want to apply to the results. So for example, if we attend a gathering of 100 people where I live, there is a 50% chance that someone at that location could have COVID-19. If I attend a gathering with 10 people, there is a 13% chance someone could have COVID. “Risk assessment and tolerance varies considerably between individuals,” the researchers acknowledge. “The intention of the tool is to promote informed behavior by providing a quantity analogous to other likelihoods that may be familiar to users (for example, weather forecasts).”
So what can you do if you decide to get together with family & friends for Thanksgiving?
Make your celebration safer. In addition to following the steps that everyone can take to make Thanksgiving safer, take these additional steps suggested by the CDC while attending a Thanksgiving gathering.
- Have the gathering outdoors if possible.
- Limit to small groups of people.
- Social distance – try to stay 6 ft from one another. Keep in mind that some people without symptoms may be able to spread COVID-19 or flu. Keeping 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
- Consider having elderly or high-risk individuals wear masks.
- Wash your hands with soap & warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you are unable to wash your hands.
- Have unopened packs of disposable plates, cups & utensils available. Consider salad dressing & condi+ment packets.
- Have only one or two people cook the food and wear masks & gloves while preparing it. Limit peoples access to the kitchen.
- Avoid going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen.
- Use single-use options, like salad dressing and condiment packets, and disposable items like food containers, plates, and utensils.
- Clean & disinfect frequently touched surfaces & items between use. Leave Lysol spray or wipes in the bathroom & kitchen areas.
Thanksgiving Travel
Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others.
- Check travel restrictions before you go. Check with state and local authorities to find out what restrictions may be in place.
- Get your flu shot before you travel.
- Always wear a mask in public settings and on public transportation.
- Stay at least 6 feet apart from anyone who is not in your household.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your mask, eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Bring extra supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer with you.
- On airplanes & trains try to get a seat away from the bathroom. This should limit the number of times passengers walk past you.
- Try to fly with an airline that is still leaving the middle seat empty or purchase a 2nd seat for social distancing if you can. We also made a quick list of COVID-19 travel essentials for flights.
- Avoid Lyft, Uber or cab drivers that are not wearing a mask. Don’t share vehicles with people you don’t live with. Vehicles are small enclosed spaces where COVID-19 can spread easily between people.
- Stay at hotels that have clear COVID protocols in place. Also, find out what amenities will be available such as restaurants.
- If you are renting a car, take what you need to disinfect the vehicle before driving. Wipe down all door handles, armrests, belt buckle and tray table before use just to be safe. The applies to trains and planes as well. Read more at How To Disinfect your area on an airplane.
We hope that you all have a safe & happy holiday season.
