Public health: limit Thanksgiving gatherings to one household

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Public health officials are recommending that local residents limit Thanksgiving celebrations to those within their own household.

“This year, as we think about Thanksgiving, we need to get creative to ensure we celebrate safely,” stated Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health, in an Oct. 7 press release from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH).

“Keeping activities in the home limited to only members of the household is the safest way to avoid inviting COVID for Thanksgiving dinner.”

Mercer added people gathering with others outside their own household should “meet outside or meet virtually to help reduce the spread of the virus and keep our friends and loved ones safe.”

While the province has set gathering limits of 10 and 25, for indoors and outdoors respectively, public health officials recommend keeping even outdoor gatherings as small as possible.

And whether inside or outside, WDGPH suggests limiting close and physical contact to those you live with and maintaining physical distancing, hand hygiene, and face masking with everyone else.

If visiting a restaurant, officials recommend eating inside only with those you live with and choosing the patio if eating with people outside your household.

A large table or more than one table will also help maintain physical distancing between guests from different households, states the WDGPH release.