FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media Relations
Statement from APHA Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD
This Thanksgiving, the best way to keep family and friends safe is to celebrate at home with your immediate household.
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance advising Americans not travel for the holiday, warning that gatherings with family and friends you do not live with can increase your risk of catching and spreading COVID-19.
All of us will miss a traditional Thanksgiving gathering this year, but it’s more important we each do our part to prevent COVID-19 from spreading and overwhelming our local health systems. We owe it to the front-line health workers putting their lives at risk — and to the most vulnerable in our communities — to help stop the pandemic’s frightening acceleration.
Please keep your Thanksgiving celebrations to members of your household this year. If you do plan to host guests or attend a gathering, CDC has tips for reducing your risks, including wearing masks and staying outdoors.
There are promising vaccines on the horizon. But until then, we must not let our guard down. This Thanksgiving, please celebrate with the health and safety of your community in mind.
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The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and all communities. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.