NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- COVID-19 positivity rates have slowly been rising in the United States over the past few months. As they continue to go up, the number of new vaccinations in the nation has slowly plateaued.
With the holidays around the corner, and family gathering expected, a spike in cases is inevitable.
On this week's episode of WCBS 880's In Depth Podcast, we examine how COVID-19 will continue to impact the country - and especially our families - throughout Thanksgiving, Christmas, and into the New Year.
We also explore how differences in opinion on the vaccine could cause unhealthy conflict at the dinner table.
First, we speak to Dr. Irwin Redlener. As one of New York's top health experts, he's believes the best way to celebrate the season safely is to simply be vaccinated.
He says, "I think that if everyone is vaccinated, and if you don't have anybody of particular vulnerability in the household, then you can have a Thanksgiving dinner in your house."
He adds, "I still would not recommend doing something that would require airplane travel, or train travel. It'd be better to avoid those kinds of transportation systems still."
Secondly, we sit down with Harvard Professor Dan Shapiro. As a master of negotiation and conflict resolution, he has a few tips at how to avoid uncomfortable conversations with loved ones who may have differing political opinions on the virus and the vaccine.
He says encourages listeners to, "try and see some merit in," those conversations. He adds, "The idea is [to] try to understand and see their logic from your perspective, even [if you] disagree with it."