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You don't need to cancel Thanksgiving if you avoid travel, leave the elderly at home and hold your parties OUTDOORS, health experts say

Health experts say a safe Thanksgiving during the pandemic is possible as long as people avoid traveling, leave elderly and at-risk family members at home, and host small gatherings outdoors.   

With a fall surge of coronavirus infections gripping the US, many Americans are forgoing tradition and getting creative with celebrations.

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its holiday guidance, noting the virus crisis is worsening and that small household gatherings are 'an important contributor.'

'Traditional Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends are fun but can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu. The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to celebrate with people in your household,' the CDC said. 

But they said small gatherings with others can still happen if they're outdoors, socially distanced, don't require travel, and as long as those at-risk stay at home.  

Health experts say a safe Thanksgiving during the pandemic is possible as long as people avoid traveling, leave elderly and at risk family members at home, and host small gatherings outdoors.  A view of Olga Garcia (left) and her sisters preparing a family meal in Sedro-Wooley, Washington. This Thanksgiving they'll deliver food to their family spread across 30 miles and everyone will sit down to eat via a group phone call

Health experts say a safe Thanksgiving during the pandemic is possible as long as people avoid traveling, leave elderly and at risk family members at home, and host small gatherings outdoors.  A view of Olga Garcia and her sisters preparing a family meal in Sedro-Wooley, Washington. This Thanksgiving they'll deliver food to their family spread across 30 miles and everyone will sit down to eat via a group phone call

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its holiday guidance saying people should avoid traveling for Thankgiving and older and at risk people should stay home

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its holiday guidance saying people should avoid traveling for Thankgiving and older and at risk people should stay home

Those who do want to gather for the holiday should meet outdoors, bring their own food, and use plastic utensils

Those who do want to gather for the holiday should meet outdoors, bring their own food, and use plastic utensils

The extra precautions come as experts fear a surge in cases following Thanksgiving celebrations, as seen in Canada following their version of Thanksgiving on October 12. 

'This sucks. It really, really does,' Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said two weeks later. 

There's no need to cancel the holiday. Spending time with loved ones is important for health too, said Lacy Fehrenbach, Washington state deputy secretary of health. 

The coronavirus spreads more easily when people are crowded together inside, so Fehrenbach encourages new outdoor traditions such as hiking as a family. 

Guest lists for indoor feasts should be small enough so people can sit six feet apart while unmasked and eating, she said. Open the windows to keep air circulating.

The more people who attend a gathering, the greater the chances that someone in the party will be carrying the virus, Fehrenbach said, 'even someone that you know and love.'  

If sharing food, the CDC advises 'have one person serve food and use single-use options, like plastic utensils.' 

Those who attend gatherings are also encouraged to bring their own food. 

However, some states are urging residents to forego the holiday and stay home.

On Monday New York health officials doubled down on their request for locals to forget Thanksgiving and stay home.

Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said: 'As the Mayor said, please, if you don't absolutely have to, don't travel. This will help protect not just your loved ones, but also other New Yorkers.' 

Under new state quarantine rules travelers to New York can 'test out' of the mandatory 14-day quarantine by getting tested three days before arriving in New York and getting tested again on the fourth day of quarantine. With two negative tests travelers can end their quarantine.

The CDC says that people should consider hosting virtual Thanksgiving meals or celebrate with people in their household rather than invite guests over

 The CDC says that people should consider hosting virtual Thanksgiving meals or celebrate with people in their household rather than invite guests over

The CDC urged people to wear a mask and practice social distancing if they do see other people

The CDC urged people to wear a mask and practice social distancing if they do see other people

Mayor Bill de Blasio has urged New Yorkers to be cautious this holiday season and avoid major gatherings

Mayor Bill de Blasio has urged New Yorkers to be cautious this holiday season and avoid major gatherings

California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued special guidelines when it comes to social gatherings ahead of the holiday saying no more than three households can gather at a time and gatherings must be held outside and should last less than two hours. 

Singing, chanting and shouting ate strongly discouraged and guests can only use restrooms indoors as long as they are frequently sanitized. 

For the first time in five years, Atlanta nutrition consultant Marisa Moore won't travel to South Carolina to see her large extended family. Instead, she plans to video chat with them as she attempts her first home-baked apple pie. When it's time to eat, they'll compare plates.

'We'll talk all day,' Moore said.

In Washington state Olga Garcia's fmaily will also be celebrating differently this year. Usually her family squeezes into her home to make tamales, watch football and tell stories.  

This year, the 61-year-old professional caregiver will deliver food to her family spread along 30 miles of the North Cascades Highway.

If the plan works, everyone will sit down at the same time to eat in their own homes and join a group phone call.

'We're going to be wise about this. We're just crossing our fingers that in 2021 we´ll be able to sit down at our table and get crazy again,' Garcia said. 

What about a quarantine? The magic day to start a pre-Thanksgiving quarantine is November. 13, according to Lindsey Leininger, who leads the Nerdy Girls, a cadre of scientists collaborating on a website called Dear Pandemic.

A strict quarantine would mean no grocery shopping, no working outside the home and no in-person school for 14 days.

What about testing? The best day to test would be as close to Turkey Day as possible while still leaving enough time to get results. But a test might not catch a still brewing infection so the best plan is the quarantine for two weeks - the time it can take for symptoms to show up. 

Olga Garcia prepares capirotada, a bread pudding layered with cheese, bananas, raisins, cinnamon and pecans, while preparing an afternoon family meal. This year she'll cook for her whole family and deliver food to them so they can share a Thanksgiving meal together virtually

Olga Garcia prepares capirotada, a bread pudding layered with cheese, bananas, raisins, cinnamon and pecans, while preparing an afternoon family meal. This year she'll cook for her whole family and deliver food to them so they can share a Thanksgiving meal together virtually

Instead of that rigmarole, Leininger said her children will see their grandparents via Zoom on Thanksgiving. After dinner, the family will meet neighbors in the driveway for pie.

'We bring our own pie and they bring their own pie,' Leininger of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire said. 'It's cold here in northern New England, but pie can be a quick activity.'

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infection disease expert, said on MSNBC last week that Americans will need to make a 'risk assessment' this Thanksgiving. 

'You really need to make a decision,' Fauci said. 

'Do I want to put that person at an increased risk by having people coming in from all parts of the country, usually in a crowded airport, without necessarily knowing if they’re infected, without having time to get tested or time to do quarantine?' he added.    

Volunteers peel potatoes and prepare other Thanksgiving food for seniors in Hawthorne, New Jersey on November 3,

Volunteers peel potatoes and prepare other Thanksgiving food for seniors in Hawthorne, New Jersey on November 3, 

In New Jersey, the nonprofit HealthBarn Foundation usually co-hosts a sit-down Thanksgiving feast for 150 older adults. This year, volunteers prepared and froze individual meals and packaged them in insulated bags. Seniors will be able to reheat the food at home

In New Jersey, the nonprofit HealthBarn Foundation usually co-hosts a sit-down Thanksgiving feast for 150 older adults. This year, volunteers prepared and froze individual meals and packaged them in insulated bags. Seniors will be able to reheat the food at home

In New Jersey, the nonprofit HealthBarn Foundation usually co-hosts a sit-down Thanksgiving feast for 150 older adults. This year, volunteers prepared and froze individual meals and packaged them in insulated bags. Seniors will be able to reheat the food at home.

'No one wanted to cancel it,' said HealthBarn director Stacey Antine. 'You want to show that you still love people and honor them. And you want to make sure that they have nutritious food for this important holiday dinner.'

In Washington state, Garcia will get up before dawn to roast a 20-pound turkey and bake capirotada, a bread pudding layered with cheese, bananas, raisins, cinnamon and pecans. Her siblings will prepare other specialties in their homes: tamales, enchiladas, pico de gallo, ceviche, green bean casserole, yams with marshmallows, pumpkin pie and pecan pie. Up and down the route, the feast will be divided into boxes and delivered.

'It's a sad time,' Garcia said. 'But it can also be a grateful time: that we're all here, that we have a roof over our head, a job to go to and enough food to go around. And for those that don't have enough, we can say, "Here´s a plate."'

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