Thanksgiving Safety During COVID-19
Thanksgiving is normally a holiday full of family, friends, and food. In 2020, it will be very different for many people due to COVID-19. With coronavirus infections and hospitalizations soaring through Kansas and Missouri, Patterson Legal Group hopes that you practice excellent COVID-19 Thanksgiving safety this year to keep your family safe and to halt the spread of this terrible disease.
Know Your State and Local COVID-19 Restrictions
The first step in Thanksgiving safety during the coronavirus pandemic is knowing your state and local rules. For example, Kansas mandates a 14-day quarantine for certain out-of-state visitors. In Missouri, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas issued updated “Safer at Home” guidelines. They include:
- Indoor gatherings being limited to 10 people
- Masks required inside and outside
- Restaurants, bars, and event spaces must close by 10:00 p.m.
- Gyms, fitness, and recreational centers must operate at 50% capacity or less
Many cities have issued or plan to issue similar Thanksgiving safety guidelines. To find out what they are, you can start with your state’s health department and find your specific city’s health department there. For our friends in Kansas, please visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHEKS). Our friends in Missouri can visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS). Remember, staying safe starts with getting good information from the right sources.
Restrict Travel if Possible
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving, in light of more than one-million new COVID-19 cases in the last week. While many of us have made plans already, please consider canceling or postponing out-of-town trips.
Additional considerations should be made for the type of travel. Those with plans to travel by airplane, bus, train, or other means of transportation that makes six feet of social distancing challenging should consider alternatives. Car trips with people in your household are considered significantly safer than traveling with a group of strangers.
You should also consider the people you’re visiting. People with a higher risk of infection are especially vulnerable during the coronavirus surge. Although a virtual meal through Facetime or Zoom isn’t as intimate, it will help keep your at-risk loved ones safe. It’s a tough concession to make because visiting friends and family is a big part of the holiday, but restricting travel is an important part of Thanksgiving safety in 2020.
Thanksgiving Safety Dinner Practices
The CDC strongly recommends spending Thanksgiving only with people in your household. However, some people are unwilling to do that. In those cases, there are many things that can be done in order to keep everyone safer. Consider:
- Planning an outdoor meal to maximize airflow
- Having hand sanitizer and masks easily available to guests
- Using single-use packets for condiments like ketchup and salad dressing
- Having single-serve desserts instead of dessert trays
- Using disposable cups, plates, and utensils
- Keeping seats at least six feet apart
- Taking turns at the dinner table instead of everyone eating at once
While many of the above aren’t typical Thanksgiving traditions, COVID-19 has made 2020 an atypical year. If you are going to host or attend a holiday gathering, please consider implementing some of the suggestions above.
Contact Patterson Legal Group
The entire team at Patterson Legal Group hopes that you and your loved ones have an amazing and safe Thanksgiving. While the COVID-19 pandemic may require additional Thanksgiving safety measures, we hope that you and your family have a lovely celebration. If you’re going on a Thanksgiving road trip, please be wary of car accidents, which typically spike during holidays. Additional kitchen activity normally leads to a rise in burn injuries as well.
In the event of an injury, please know that Patterson Legal Group is available to assist you 24/7, even on holidays. Our compassionate team of legal professionals is just one call away.
Consultations are free and our attorneys do not charge fees unless your case is won. Give us a call at 888-687-2400 and we’re confident that you’ll quickly learn why Patterson Legal Group has acquired a sterling reputation over the years. For you convenience, you can also reach us online through LiveChat or secure contact form.
The information on this blog is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as legal advice for an individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship nor does viewing this material constitute an attorney-client relationship.
