State officials and health experts are warning against holiday gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic.
While many will put precautions in place to curb the spread of the virus, others plan to move forward with their celebrations the same way they’ve always had.
According to a recent survey from Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center, about 40 percent of U.S. residents say they will gather in groups of 10 or more this holiday season.
A majority of respondents, about 73 percent, said they would practice social distancing. Another 79 percent said they would only gather with those in their household.
80 percent said they would ask family and friends not to come if they experienced symptoms of the virus.
Roughly 33 percent said they wouldn’t require family members to wear masks at Thanksgiving gatherings.
And 25 percent said they would not be social distancing from loved ones.
Some of the numbers are especially troublesome as COVID cases nationwide are surging. Many local governments have even reverted to “stay at home” advisories and other safety guidelines.
“We’re going to look back at what happened during this holiday season and ask ourselves, ‘Were we part of the solution or were we part of the problem?’” said Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief quality and patient safety officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “When you’re gathered together around the table, engaged in conversation, sitting less than 6 feet apart with your masks down, even in a small group, that’s when the spread of this virus can really happen.”
He echoed what the CDC and Dr. Anthony Fauci have said numerous times: opt to gather virtually with family members beyond your household.
"I think given the fluid and dynamic nature of what's going on right now in the spread and the uptick of infections, I think people should be very careful and prudent about social gatherings, particularly when members of the family might be at a risk because of their age or their underlying condition," Fauci said.
"You may have to bite the bullet and sacrifice that social gathering unless you're pretty certain that the people that you're dealing with are not infected," he added.
He even gave a list of tips for celebrating the holidays in a smart way.
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