OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor. Send your letters to [email protected]. This letter is from a local doctor who also is the driving force behind a Facebook Page aimed at educating people in Orillia about the pandemic.
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Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year where you come together as a family to reminisce and make new memories.
This year is different. We need the comfort and love of our families so much more than normal but how can we do it safely during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Keep your loved ones safe this thanksgiving — have a virtual dinner.
Plan a time when you can all sit down in your own house and call virtually. Here are some options:
Apple FaceTime (only works between two devices).
Google Meet: not time limited and works with a simple link.
Zoom: free version limited to 40 minutes (not usually long enough for most dinners - unless you’d rather a short dinner).
Skype.
What are the risks of meeting this Thanksgiving?
Work: You may have been exposed in the lunch room or with a coworker.
Shopping: Less of a risk if you wear a mask, but still plausible to get COVID-19 if there is a super spreader event.
Friends: Tour bubble grows exponentially when you add in other people from other bubbles.
College/University students that have been away: They tend to have larger bubbles and the incidence of COVID-19 right now in Ontario is highest in this age group.
What if you decide to go ahead with a joint Thanksgiving dinner in person? If you do:
- Try to eat outdoors.
- Make sure to distance at least 6 feet. But remember that 6 feet is protective only in short interactions. The more time you spend with your family increases your risk of contracting the virus. (Increased duration of exposure increases the amount of viral particles you could be exposed to).
- Wear a mask when not eating - you should always do this if someone is not in your bubble.
- Seating - keep children and college/university students away from at risk (older) persons.
- Have one person plate (serve) the food (while wearing a mask). Don’t have communal snack bowls. Have individually packaged or plated snacks.
- Before and after dinner talk with your masks on outside (while keeping at least 6 feet apart).
If you are in a high-risk area (or travelling from or working in a high-risk area) it is advised NOT to meet with anyone outside of your household this Thanksgiving. In fact, public health is recommending you only have Thanksgiving with people in your own household.
Keep your family safe — try Thanksgiving Dinner virtually this year. We CAN do this!
Check out the facebook page Orillia & Area COVID 19 for more tips and up-to-date research on the virus.
Dr Jeff Pitcher
Orillia
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