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Health Experts Suggest Canceling Traditional Thanksgiving Plans
Doctors are warning that it might be time to cancel traditional Thanksgiving plans. With the pandemic currently hitting its “worst explosion”, and as hospitalizations approach 70,000 for the first time this year, most Americans are rethinking their holiday plans.
COVID-19 cases are rising in 48 states, and should have people considering alternatives to traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, according to University of Alabama at Birmingham Associate Dean for Global Health Dr. Michael Saag.
“I would stay at home. I would think about canceling, honestly, Thanksgiving get togethers,” explained Dr. Saag. “I know I sound like the Thanksgiving equivalent of Ebeneezer Scrooge, but we are in the middle of a pandemic that is exponentially growing.”
Medical experts predicted winter months would accelerate the growth of new cases as more people shift to spending time indoors, and travel increases opportunities to spread the virus. With Thanksgiving, however, there is a new fear which includes inter generational celebrations which are likely to bring younger family members into contact with more susceptible populations including grandparents.
Dr. Brian Garibaldi, director of Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit, agreed with Dr. Saag’s warning. “We need to be careful in how we plan our celebrations,” he said. “There’s this false sense of comfort that you get from hanging out with friends or family members that you know well — that somehow they are going to be safer than just the average person on the street in terms of a risk to give you the virus.”
Americans unwilling to change travel plans might turn to testing before their trip back home. But Dr. Saag also warned against a possible false sense of security that could come from preliminary negative test results.
This can be especially true with a rapid antigen test. If somebody doesn’t have symptoms, that test can be falsely negative 30% to 40% of the time, depending on details. A negative test, even if it’s truly negative, doesn’t mean that that person wasn’t exposed a day before the test and then three days later ends up with COVID. This test is only a reliable indicator if the test results are positive.
The after-Thanksgiving COVID numbers will show how America followed or ignored the health experts’ recommendations. If certain segments of the US. remain resolute in denying COVID-19 is real. or denying that it is deadly, or cling to their stubborn belief it’s a hoax, their Thanksgiving trip to celebrate with the grandparents will just be the beginning. Around Christmas, visiting the grandparents will likely involve an open casket. Happy Holidays!
It's Time to Rethink Thanksgiving. Here's How to Have That Conversation With Your Family
.
Health Experts Suggest Canceling Traditional Thanksgiving Plans
Doctors are warning that it might be time to cancel traditional Thanksgiving plans. With the pandemic currently hitting its “worst explosion”, and as hospitalizations approach 70,000 for the first time this year, most Americans are rethinking their holiday plans.
COVID-19 cases are rising in 48 states, and should have people considering alternatives to traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, according to University of Alabama at Birmingham Associate Dean for Global Health Dr. Michael Saag.
“I would stay at home. I would think about canceling, honestly, Thanksgiving get togethers,” explained Dr. Saag. “I know I sound like the Thanksgiving equivalent of Ebeneezer Scrooge, but we are in the middle of a pandemic that is exponentially growing.”
Medical experts predicted winter months would accelerate the growth of new cases as more people shift to spending time indoors, and travel increases opportunities to spread the virus. With Thanksgiving, however, there is a new fear which includes inter generational celebrations which are likely to bring younger family members into contact with more susceptible populations including grandparents.
Dr. Brian Garibaldi, director of Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit, agreed with Dr. Saag’s warning. “We need to be careful in how we plan our celebrations,” he said. “There’s this false sense of comfort that you get from hanging out with friends or family members that you know well — that somehow they are going to be safer than just the average person on the street in terms of a risk to give you the virus.”
Americans unwilling to change travel plans might turn to testing before their trip back home. But Dr. Saag also warned against a possible false sense of security that could come from preliminary negative test results.
This can be especially true with a rapid antigen test. If somebody doesn’t have symptoms, that test can be falsely negative 30% to 40% of the time, depending on details. A negative test, even if it’s truly negative, doesn’t mean that that person wasn’t exposed a day before the test and then three days later ends up with COVID. This test is only a reliable indicator if the test results are positive.
The after-Thanksgiving COVID numbers will show how America followed or ignored the health experts’ recommendations. If certain segments of the US. remain resolute in denying COVID-19 is real. or denying that it is deadly, or cling to their stubborn belief it’s a hoax, their Thanksgiving trip to celebrate with the grandparents will just be the beginning. Around Christmas, visiting the grandparents will likely involve an open casket. Happy Holidays!
It's Time to Rethink Thanksgiving. Here's How to Have That Conversation With Your Family
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