Having a Safe, Healthy, and Happy Thanksgiving

I hope this finds you well.

This week is filled with so many traditions that we do as a community and a nation: gathering with family and friends for turkey and pumpkin pie, watching the Macy’s parade, football, and “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” together, and going out Friday morning for a frenzy of shopping.

However, this year we need to do those in a different way.

We can all still enjoy our Thanksgiving traditions. We just have to do them in a way that keeps us all healthy.

Instead of watching football all together on the couch, participate in a group text with your family and friends as you all watch the game from your own homes. Let everyone see how delicious your pumpkin pie looks through Facetime or video chat.

We have to limit ourselves to celebrating with our own households if at all possible, and if you must gather with one or two other households it needs to be done outdoors and for no more than two hours.

If you do gather with people outside of your household these precautions are critical for keeping everyone healthy:

?      Maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from people not in your household at all times, whether you’re sitting or standing. More distance is safer.

?      Wear face coverings at all times, including when talking to others. You can remove face covering briefly to eat, drink, or take medication as long as you stay at least 6 feet away from everyone outside your own household. More distance is safer.

?      Remain outside as much as possible. If you go inside, open windows and doors to increase ventilation.

?      Wash hands with soap and water often. If not available, use hand sanitizer.

?      Serve shared food safely. If it is not possible to use single-serve disposable containers, food and beverages must be served by a person who washes or sanitizes their hands frequently and wears a face covering. If you are dropping off home-prepared food or drink gifts, be sure to wear a mask and disinfect or wash your hands thoroughly.

?      Avoid singing, chanting, and shouting. If you cannot avoid these activities, keep your face covering on, your volume low, and at least a 6-foot distance from others. More distance and being outdoors are safer.

?      Schedule Facetimes or video chats with family and friends who may be isolated or alone this week. Keeping in touch with loved ones is so important throughout the pandemic but especially this week and through the end of the year.

The pandemic is worse now than it was in March and April. We are facing the very real possibility of running out of hospital beds in Santa Clara County, and things could actually get even worse over the next two months if we do not take proper precautions this week and during the December holidays.

Family and friends are so important this time of year, especially in 2020, but we have to take these precautions this year and get this pandemic under control. That way we can all be together to enjoy the parade, the football games, the turkey, and “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” in 2021.

Wear your mask, stay socially distant, wash your hands, and be well.