Preventing COVID at Thanksgiving

COVID cases are surging. The CDC advises families to stay home for Thanksgiving. Here are answers to the most common questions families have.

Posted 11:00 a.m. Nov 23, 2020 — Updated 11:00 a.m. Nov 23, 2020

Liisa Ogburn

Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest travel period of the year. AAA recently estimated 50 million Americans will travel this year to be with family, down from 55 million in 2019. However, this year, the Centers for Disease Control is urging people not to.

Everyone is understandably frustrated. We have been in a pandemic for over eight months now. “COVID fatigue” is real. However, these warnings are not given lightly.

We are in the third wave of outbreaks. In North Carolina, we are hitting new daily case counts higher than in the spring. In fact, Thursday, the NCDHHS reported the highest single-day count of new cases since the pandemic first arrived in the state: 4,296. And while North Carolina’s rates are not rising as quickly as other states, they are significantly higher than even two months ago. In September, the positivity test rate for the state was hovering around 5%. On Tuesday, Governor Cooper announced that the positivity test rate for the state is now 8.6%. With weather getting cooler, more people congregating inside, and larger groups getting together for the holidays, there is a realistic worry that that number will rise exponentially.

We don’t have to look far for examples of “super spreader” incidents, from family reunions to funerals, get-togethers in restaurants, bars, dorms or even the White House Rose Garden, some events have led to over one hundred infections. Importantly, according to experts, it’s not just about how large the gathering is; it’s about how infectious a single individual’s case may be.

While both national and state leaders are encouraging families to stay home, each family will decide what is wisest for them. It may be prudent to review answers to these relevant questions as families develop their Thanksgiving plan:

What if I feel fine and am following safe protocols (masks, distancing and handwashing)?

According to Dr. Fauci, Director of the National Agency on Allergies and Infectious Diseases, as many as 40 percent of people with COVID express no symptoms. In a study published the Journal of American Medical Association, researchers in South Korea found that that people without symptoms carry just as much virus in their nose, throat and lungs as those with symptoms, and for almost as long.

What if I get tested and am negative?

Testing might prove that you are not infected today, but it doesn’t indicate whether you have been exposed or are incubating the virus. The average number of days someone carries the virus before showing symptoms is 5, but it can be as long as 14.

If I do get tested, when should I get tested?

Testing as close as possible to the time that you're traveling is helpful, medical experts say, but that doesn't mean that it's a sure way to prevent the spread.

How long after a positive test should I wait before going to see my parents?

According to the CDC, people "stop shedding disease 10 to 14 days after exhibiting symptoms." Those with mild to moderate COVID-19 remain infectious no longer than 10 days after symptom onset and people with more severe to critical illness no longer than 20 days after symptom onset.

Am I immune if I tested positive for COVID in the spring?

We still don’t fully know. In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found no reduction in antibodies four months after diagnosis. However, a separate study found antibodies peaked after 60 days, then declined. There have been some reports of people contracting the virus a second time.

Our family has decided to get together. How can we best be safe?

Employ the three W’s: Wear, Wait and Wash (Wear a mask, Wait at least six feet apart, and wash your hands frequently.) Read additional guidance from Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC .

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