Thanksgiving is only a little over a month away, and that means that normally we’d be making our travel plans for the holiday. Many people travel many miles via car or airplane to visit family and friends for the celebration, but this year, things are going to look different.

The CDC advises against traveling, which “increases the chance of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.” The CDC also labels “large indoor gatherings with people from outside of your household,” including the ones many people typically have on Thanksgiving, as high risk activities.

Dr. Fauci, the White House’s coronavirus adviser, told CBS News that he will not be spending Thanksgiving with his children this year.

“My Thanksgiving is going to look very different this year. I would love to have it with my children, but my children are in three separate states throughout the country and in order for them to get here, they would all have to go to an airport, get on a plane and travel with public transportation.”

Dr. Fauci added that one of the big reasons his children aren’t coming home for Thanksgiving is that they are concerned about health risks for their dad. Anyone 65+ is considered high risk for COVID-19, and Dr. Fauci is 79 years old.

“They themselves, because of their concern for me and my age, have decided they’re not going to come home for Thanksgiving, even though all three of them want very much to come home for Thanksgiving.”

Dr. Fauci encourages other families to follow his family’s lead and “sacrifice that social gathering” to help prevent further cases of COVID-19.

“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.”

Watch the video below for more details about Dr. Fauci’s feelings about Thanksgiving gatherings.

 

According to the CDC, low risk ways to celebrate Thanksgiving this year include having dinner with just the members of your household, watching movies and sporting events at home, and having a virtual dinner with family and friends outside your household.

It might be Thanksgiving via Zoom this year.

How do you usually celebrate Thanksgiving? Are you going to modify your Thanksgiving plans this year due to COVID-19?