Stay Home This Thanksgiving

We are in the middle of a pandemic and seasonal flu hasn’t even hit its peak.

Hospitals are short staffed in over 26 states including Indiana (and all parts of the midwest). (See https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/news/hospitals-near-staff-breaking-point-4275505 and https://cbs4indy.com/news/hospitals-faced-with-staffing-shortages-as-indiana-sees-record-covid-19-hospitalizations/?fbclid=IwAR2Mdx15MyBH1MKP8FbbZ_Mih5TNAsyalj5QDPNoEIprjSWH3MgD2pcrkd8)

No one understands how much we all need a hug from a loved one. But CDC is concerned that if Thanksgiving goes forward as the pandemic didnt exist, it might very well be the last hug you give grandma. (See the following for ideas on coping with this added stress https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/coping-holiday-stress.html)

Hospitals are short staffed already (see above references)

Hospitals ICU beds are nearing capacity (see above references)

If you or a family member contracts COVID, CDC is conerned there may be no room for grandma in any hospital. 

Washington State University’s IHME predictions through March 1st, 2021 grimly state we will lose approximately another 220,000 American lives to COVID19 (in addition to the already list 256,000+), bringing total deaths from COVID to American lives hitting 470,940 by March 1st, 2021. See https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america?view=total-deaths&tab=trend).

So to keep you and your loved ones safe, CD recommends the following:

“Among the lower-risk activities for Thanksgiving are:

Having a small dinner with only people who live in your family

Having a virtual dinner and sharing recipes with friends

Shopping online, rather than in person, on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Watching sporting events, parades, and movies from home.

You can find more information about the CDC's Thanksgiving guidelines”

(source: Fox29 Philadelphia)

For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/thanksgiving.html

Please, don’t make this Thanksgiving one of your family members their last... Follow guidelines, stay home and celebrate Thanksgiving in person with only those in your household and virtually via zoom with other family members.

This is one Thanksgiving in your life it would be prudent to suspend travel and stay at home.

———————————

About the author

Jeff Wolfe is the Director of the Spiritual Care Association's First Responder Chaplain Division (Fire, Police, EMS, and Disaster Chaplains); a Crisis and Trauma Specialist (CTS); a Contributing Editor, Writer, weekly inspirational & educational content provider for ChaplainUSA.org; Adjunct Professor for the SCA University of Theology and Spirituality; and a Chaplain with the Indiana Guard Reserve as a member of the Chaplain Corps (US Army protocol), a former Law Enforcement Chaplain with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), and former Training Coordinator, Developer, Lead Instructor, and Field Training Officer for the first IMPD Chaplain Academy, a member of the Hendricks County Indiana Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), a member of Hendricks County Indiana Crisis Response Team and a member of the Hendricks County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disasters).