Health expert: No more than 5 people should gather for Easter dinner
Easter Sunday is usually enjoyed in the company of loved ones. Health experts recommend not gathering this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Usually on Easter Sunday, parking lots would be full for Easter celebrations. But that won’t be the case this year. Health experts recommend people limit gatherings at places of worship and at home.
Churches have already held Palm Sunday and Good Friday services online for worshipers. For most people, they celebrate Easter at church, then have a big dinner afterwards with family and friends.
Dr. Allen Mask said people should hunker down and don’t gather in this traditional Easter setting. He said in times of an emergency, we have to continue being vigilant, and social distancing is the best tool we have right now to defeat coronavirus.
Websites and social media locations to watch services
"This notion of inviting the next door neighbor, inviting an uncle and aunt over, inviting our cousins, inviting our godmother and so forth, that's the thing that we're saying people should not do this year," Mask said.
With widespread restrictions on congregating in large groups, local churches are getting creative with how to best serve communities for Easter.
"We went ahead and we recorded our service today to play for tomorrow," said Derek Walls, a Durham resident.
The religious holiday means a lot to Walls.
"We normally go to church service and we all get together after church, celebrate, of course we have our Easter outfits on and we all get together and celebrate Easter," Walls said.
Mask said no more than five people should gather for dinner.
"The people in your immediate family, mom and dad, perhaps two or three children. I think that's fine," Mask said.
With the United States now leading in the amount of coronavirus deaths around the world, Mask said vigilance is important more than ever.
"We've gotta continue to be vigilant until the very end," Mask said. "Social distancing, of course, is the best tool we have right now."
Forced to reinvent Easter, Walls is willing to make the sacrifice.
"Show love through phone, through FaceTime and through communication on that level," Walls said.
