As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated guidelines for safely celebrating Thanksgiving this year.

What’s the Safest Way to Celebrate? The guidelines reiterate that the safest way to celebrate is with people from your household or virtually, while also listing considerations for in-person celebrations, like community levels of COVID-19 and the number of people expected to attend, and descriptions of those who should not attend (e.g. those who are symptomatic or may have been exposed or those with underlying health conditions).

As a reminder, the CDC’s guidelines are not meant to replace—but rather supplement—any state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules and regulations with which all gatherings must comply, so don't forget to check those too. For New York State, more information can be found HERE.

Carefully consider your personal situation and decide whether it’s safe for you and others to attend or host an in-person Thanksgiving celebration.

Should you decide to host an in-person Thanksgiving celebration, keep these tips from the CDC in mind to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Sit and eat outside, if possible. If an outdoor gathering isn’t feasible, try to keep windows open during the indoor gathering.
• Limit the number of guests.
• Set safety expectations with guests ahead of time (e.g., mask-wearing, social distancing and hand-washing expectations).
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items between use.
• Consider asking guests to bring their own food, drink and utensils.
• If sharing food, have one person serve food, and use single-use utensils.
• Limit the number of people in food preparation areas.
• Consider asking guests to get tested before attending.

If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, be sure to check travel restrictions and CDC travel guidance before leaving (New York travel restrictions and guidance can be found HERE). Also, get your flu shot before you travel. Contact your doctor or click here to see where flu shots are available.

Although the holidays are generally a time of getting together and celebrating, the CDC is urging everyone to be smart this year in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Again, the safest way to celebrate during the pandemic is to do so virtually or with members of your own household. If you choose to celebrate at an in-person gathering with those outside of your household, be sure to keep the CDC’s guidelines in mind to stay as safe as possible.