Thanksgiving 2020: With a Face Mask?

Thanksgiving is a time of great joy and great stress for many American families. Whether it is fretting over who to invite, who is going to host, what is on the menu or worrying about family squabbles at the dinner table, it can be a lot to take in. Because of COVID-19, the 2020 Thanksgiving holiday may be more difficult to navigate than ever. If you're sitting at home worrying about the idea of eating with a face mask this year, we hope this guide can help you choose the best way for your family to enjoy the holiday safely. 

Factors To Consider for Your Family Gathering 

When deciding what type of event to host or attend over the Thanksgiving holiday, there are several factors you should consider. It is also important to take into account any restrictions in place, such as mask ordinances, at your state and local level.

Community Levels of COVID-19

The more community spread there is at the location where the gathering is being held and the location any attendees are traveling from, the higher the risk of COVID-19 transmission is. You can find this information on your local health department's website. It is recommended that people avoid traveling from or to places with high levels of community transmission.

Indoor or Outdoor Venues

Indoor events are riskier than outdoor events. Indoor locations with poor ventilation represent the highest risk. You can lower the risk of spread indoors by opening windows or doors.

Number of People and Length of Gathering

The more people gather together and the longer they stay in contact with each other, the higher the risk. Observe any restrictions on the size of gatherings in your location and limit the guest list as much as possible to maximize safety. If you are inviting guests from outside your home, consider not lingering after dinner. 

Behavior of Attendees

If you know someone has not been following social distancing guidelines or wearing a mask in public, you may want to reconsider inviting them to your gathering or accepting an invitation to theirs. Additionally, if guests are not observing safety precautions at an event you are attending or hosting, it may be wise to ask them to leave if you are the host or go home if you're the guest.

Choose Your Level of Risk

The CDC has provided some guidance on which typical Thanksgiving activities present the highest risk for transmitting COVID-19 at a family gathering. These risks are divided into higher, lower and moderate-risk categories.

Lower Risk Activities

If you want to avoid absolutely all risk, you can give your family a Thanksgiving canceled notice and stay home. This may be a good idea for people in extremely high-risk categories. However, there are lower-risk alternatives that may work for your family:

•        Have Thanksgiving dinner at home with only the people you live with

•        Make a no-contact plate delivery, for friends, family and neighbors who you might normally invite, or who are missing their family celebrations because they are in high-risk categories for COVID-19

•        Host a virtual dinner over Zoom or Skype

•        Do your Black Friday shopping online

•        Watch parades, sports and movies at home

Moderate Risk Activities

If a small family dinner isn't going to cut it for you this holiday, some moderate risk options balance enjoyment with increased risk. If you or someone you have regular contact with is in a high-risk category, you may want to skip these activities:

•        Host an outdoor dinner for friends and family, while observing proper social distancing, washing your hands often and wearing masks when you are closer than six feet apart

•        Visit a pumpkin patch where people are observing social distancing guidelines, wearing masks and hand sanitizer is provided

•        Watch a small outdoor sporting event at a venue observing safety precautions

Higher Risk Activities

The CDC recommends that all people avoid higher-risk activities to prevent spreading COVID-19 during the Thanksgiving holiday. It is particularly critical for those at high risk to avoid these activities:

•        In-person Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping at crowded stores

•        Attending or participating in a crowded sporting event

•        Going to a crowded indoor party

•        Consuming alcohol or drugs that can impair judgment and result in risky behaviors

•        Hosting or going to large indoor gatherings with people you do not live with

People Who Should Avoid Thanksgiving Gatherings

For some people, it may be best to avoid Thanksgiving gatherings completely. If you fall into one of these categories, the CDC recommends you not host or attend any Thanksgiving gatherings with anyone outside of your household:

•        Have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not been cleared to be around others by your doctor

•        Have symptoms of COVID-19

•        Are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test

•        Could have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days

•        Are at an increased risk of suffering severe illness or death from COVID-19

•        Live or work with someone at increased risk for severe illness

 

After a long, difficult year of adjusting to life in a world struggling with a pandemic, many people may be feeling frustrated at the prospect of having to give up or alter beloved holiday traditions. However, there are ways you can enjoy your holiday while reducing the risk to yourself and others. HALOLIFE is dedicated to finding innovative ways for our customers to live their best lives while staying safe during this pandemic. Visit us online to learn more about how the HALOmaskTM can help you and your family stay safe this holiday season.