But with children returning to face-to-face school and other activities in some communities, it may be especially risky for them to reunite with older adults who are at highest risk of getting seriously sick.
“Families may need to consider alternative, safer ways to celebrate and preserve traditions in order to keep loved ones safe,” Clark says.
The nationally-representative report was based on responses from 1,443 parents of at least one child age 12 or under.
Shortening the guest list to reduce the risk of transmission
Among parents whose children usually see extended family on Thanksgiving, 61% still plan to meet in-person for the upcoming holiday. But only 18% plan to involve people traveling from out of state this season, even though 40% say gatherings usually involve people traveling that far.
Many parents who do plan to proceed with in-person celebrations say they will use different strategies to keep children and guests safe, according to the report.
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Eighty-eight percent of parents say they will ask family members not to attend a Thanksgiving gathering if they have any COVID-19 symptoms or exposure. Meanwhile, two-thirds will not invite certain family members who have not been practicing safety precautions, such as mask wearing.
SEE ALSO: How to Have a Safe Holiday Season During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In assessing the safety precautions of extended families, parents need to ask about adults and children. Given the differences in local and state regulations, parents should ask whether cousins or other school-age family members are attending in-person classes and activities. If they are, there should be specific questions about how well COVID-19 precautions are consistently followed.
Parents should anticipate that some of these conversations will be uncomfortable, as there is uneven acceptance about precautions like wearing masks, Clark says.
“A key strategy to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission will be to limit the number of households who get together and choosing carefully who to include in Thanksgiving celebrations. Parents will also have to be vigilant about safety precautions,” Clark says.
Maintaining distance at gatherings
Many parents also plan to take extra steps to protect older adults. Nine in 10 parents say Thanksgiving gatherings typically include grandparents, and three-quarters of parents will try to limit contact between their child and high-risk guests, including seniors or people with medical conditions.
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November 23, 2020 at 05:00PM
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Many Families Unwilling to Skip Thanksgiving Gatherings During COVID-19 - Michigan Medicine
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