As thousands of families look forward to getting together over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, state officials and healthcare professionals are asking them to do just the opposite.
With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations on the rise once again, Nashville Mayor John Cooper has urged the city not to let Thanksgiving become a “superspreader” event. Tennessee is already averaging around 2,700 new cases a day. The best thing residents can do to stop the spread? Stay home.
While this may not be the way most of us envisioned celebrating Thanksgiving 2020 in Nashville, spending the holiday just with the members of your household is the safest thing to do for those who are vulnerable to severe infection, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
The Nashville personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys encourage you to find creative ways to safely celebrate Thanksgiving this year. To help you protect yourself no matter how you decide to spend the holiday, we’ve created the following safety guide.
If You Must Travel, Opt to Drive Instead of Fly
If you’re set on visiting family for Thanksgiving, you can help mitigate the risk of infection by driving a car instead of flying or using other public transportation. To be even more cautious, you should self-isolate as much as possible in the days and weeks leading up to your trip and get tested several days prior to leaving. You should also consider getting a flu shot if you haven’t already.
While driving may be safer than flying when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19, keep in mind that driving has its own risks during holiday periods. Nashville car accidents are common during the holidays due to an increase in traffic, drunk driving, and drowsy driving. Make sure to plan for possible traffic delays, get enough sleep, and never get behind the wheel after drinking.
Follow the Rule of 8
If you do decide to have a small gathering at your home, keep in mind that there should be no more than eight people at a residence at a time, as per the directive put into place by Mayor Cooper starting November 23. Previously, gatherings in Davidson County had been restricted to 25 people or fewer.
Keep Gatherings Outdoors When Possible
With mild temperatures in the low 60s forecasted for Thanksgiving 2020 in Nashville, why not celebrate outdoors? This will allow you and your guests to maximize your social distancing (especially while eating, since you can’t wear a mask) and enjoy the Autumn weather. If it gets nippy, you can even use a backyard fire pit to stay warm. Just be careful to supervise children around open flames to prevent accidental burn injuries.
Follow Other CDC Recommendations
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends forgoing Thanksgiving plans that involve people outside your household, the organization also acknowledges how difficult isolation can be during the holidays.
That’s why the CDC has provided guidelines for those who won’t be spending Thanksgiving with their household this year. If you’re attending or hosting a gathering, it is recommended to do the following:
- Wear a face mask at all times unless you are eating
- Stay at least six feet away from those not in your household
- Use additional tables to help spread out your eating space when eating outside isn’t possible
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently
- Wipe down and disinfect shared surfaces or high-touch items regularly
- Bring your own food items and use single-use utensils for shared food
Find New Ways To Celebrate Thanksgiving 2020 in Nashville
For those who have made the difficult decision not to travel to spend the holiday with their family and friends, you may have to think outside the box to stay connected with loved ones this Thanksgiving. You could have a virtual Thanksgiving via Facetime or Zoom, send your family members and friends your favorite secret recipes for Thanksgiving dishes, or support a local business in need by ordering a takeaway Thanksgiving meal.
Happy Thanksgiving From Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys
Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys encourages Nashville residents to stay home and stay safe this Thanksgiving while finding new ways like the ones listed above to stay connected with loved ones.
If you do suffer an injury over the holiday weekend as a result of someone else’s negligence, our Nashville personal injury attorneys will be available around the clock for those who need help after an accident. Contact our legal team by calling 615-333-8888, send us your case details using this form, or connect with a LiveChat agent for immediate assistance.