CDC recommends against traveling for Thanksgiving 0:45
(CNN) ––
A third of parents believe the benefits of Thanksgiving family gatherings are worth the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19, according to a new survey released Monday.
This, even when 9 out of 10 parents said that grandparents used to be present at their Thanksgiving gathering.
Older adults are one of the groups most at risk of serious COVID-19 infections.
Survey results are based on responses from nearly 1,500 nationally representative parents with at least one child age 12 or younger.
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"Our report suggests that while many children have spent less time with family members during the pandemic, some parents may find it difficult to avoid Christmas gatherings and reduce covid-19 risks," said Sarah Clark, co-director of the National Survey on Children's Health from CS Mott Children's Hospital in Michigan Medicine.
“We all know that large public gatherings carry great risks of the spread of covid-19.
But small, informal social gatherings, where people feel more 'safe', are also part of what has been fueling the broadcast, "Clark said in a statement.
More than half of the parents felt that it was "very important" that the children were allowed to see the extended family.
Also, share family traditions during the holidays.
And they said their children have been more isolated from grandparents and other extended families since the pandemic began.
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Pandemic fatigue may be part of the reason why 61% of families that traditionally meet in person for the holidays plan to do so again this Thanksgiving, Clark said.
US reaches deadly milestones
As Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, the country reaches bleak milestones in the fight against coronavirus.
More than 1 million air travelers in one day in the US 0:45
More than a quarter of a million people have died from covid-19 in the country.
Additionally, the latest forecast indicates that 471,000 Americans will die from the virus by March.
The death toll is driven by a massive increase in coronavirus infections across the country.
“The unprecedented increase that is occurring is due to uncontrolled community spread and infection.
Which has overloaded health systems in some areas.
And that will ultimately consume the capacity of our healthcare system.
It can also reduce the availability of care in many places in our country, "warned three US health and medical organizations in a statement issued last week.
The American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, and the American Nurses Association joined many other health experts in urging citizens to cut back on traditional gatherings to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“We –– doctors, nurses, hospital and health system leaders and public health professionals on the front lines of this pandemic–– strongly urge everyone throughout our country to celebrate responsibly, in a reduced way that limits the spread of the virus, to help reduce the risk of infecting friends, family and other people you love, "they said.
The CDC recommendation on covid-19 and Thanksgiving gatherings
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also urged people not to travel for Thanksgiving.
And, in that sense, to celebrate only with members of their own households.
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“What is at stake is a higher probability that one of your loved ones will get sick.
And then he is hospitalized and dies during the holidays, ”said Dr. Henry Walke, who heads the CDC's Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections.
Even youth returning from college and recruited members returning for the holidays should be treated as high-risk carriers of the virus, explained Erin Sauber-Schatz, leader of the CDC's Community Intervention and Critical Population Task Force.
“People who have not lived in your home for 14 days prior to the celebration should not be considered members of the household.
So you have to take those extra precautions, including wearing masks inside your own home, ”Sauber-Schatz said.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, urged Americans to consider the extremely high risks of infecting the most vulnerable.
“You look at your family and you say, 'Do I have a person who is older, a person with an underlying medical condition that could put them at greater risk for a severe outcome if they are affected?
Do I want to take that risk right now? '”Fauci told CNN's Chris Cuomo last Thursday.
Some families will take precautions against covid-19 in meetings
Mott's survey found that some parents planned to take extra covid-19 precautions, suggested by experts, during their Thanksgiving gatherings.
Only 18% of parents in the survey planned to involve people traveling from out of state.
Zoom to remove limits on video calls on Thanksgiving 0:26
Three-quarters said they will try to limit contact between their son and high-risk guests.
Among them, older grandparents and people with medical conditions.
Meanwhile, two-thirds of parents will ask guests to maintain social distancing.
However, those good intentions can be difficult to fulfill with young children, Clark cautioned.
"It can be difficult to maintain distance between children and high-risk adults during a multi-day visit, or even a long dinner," he said.
Clark recommended talking to children in advance about the importance of wearing masks, physical distancing.
Also keep your voice down, as singing or yelling sends more viruses into the air than just talking.
Still, “parents need to be realistic about how feasible it will be to limit contact.
And think carefully about whether or not they should meet in person with high-risk family members, ”Clark said.
“The wisest thing to do for now is to just walk away and keep the reunion within the family unit you live with.
This, instead of people from outside entering.
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