What to Think About Before Traveling This Thanksgiving

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said yesterday that the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving "is to celebrate at home with the people you live with." However, they are also providing some detailed guidance on how to travel and celebrate with others if you're going to do that.

The CDC says gatherings with family and friends who you don't live with can increase the chances of getting and or spreading the coronavirus. Not traveling and staying home is the best way to keep yourself, and others, healthy this year.

Before traveling for Thanksgiving the CDC says you should ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you or anyone you will be traveling with at an increased risk for getting very sick from COVID-19? What about someone you will be visiting with during your trip?
• Are cases high or increasing in your community, or the community of your destination?
• Are hospitals in your community or the community you will be visiting overwhelmed with patients who have COVID-19?
• Are there any travel restrictions in your community or at your destination?
• During the 14 days before you travel have you or the people you'll be visiting with had close contact with people you / they don't live with?
• Do your plans include traveling by bus, train, or plane which might make staying six feet apart difficult?

The CDC says if the answer to any of the above is "yes", then you should delay your travel and stay home. The CDC has resources for you to find the answers to some of these questions here.

If you must travel for Thanksgiving the CDC recommends the following:

• Check travel restrictions before you head out on your trip.
• Get a flu shot before you travel.
• Always wear your mask in public. Including when you use public transportation and when you're around people you don't live with.
• Stay six feet away from anyone who does not live with you.
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your mask or face.
• Bring extra supplies like: masks and hand sanitizer.

The CDC has a handy info-graphic you can view to help you safely celebrate Thanksgiving here. And another info-graphic with some other different safer Thanksgiving activities here.

The CDC says more than one million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last seven days.