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This is despite the fact that nine in 10 parents said grandparents – one of the groups most at risk for serious infections – were usually at their Thanksgiving gathering. The survey results were based on responses from nearly 1,500 nationally representative parents with at least one child aged 12 or younger.
“Our report suggests that while many children spent less time with loved ones during the pandemic, some parents may find it difficult to forgo vacation gatherings in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19,” said Sarah Clark, co-director from the CS Mott Children’s Hospital National Survey on Children’s Health in Michigan Medicine.
“We all know that large public gatherings carry great risks of the spread of COVID-19. But the occasional small social gatherings where people feel the most ‘safe’ are also part of what fuels transmission,” said Clark in a statement.
More than half of parents felt that it was “very important” that children were allowed to see extended family and share in the traditions of family celebrations, and said their children had been more isolated from grandparents and other extended family members since the start of the pandemic.
Pandemic fatigue may be one of the reasons 61% of families who traditionally meet in person over the holidays consider doing so again on Thanksgiving, Clark said.
Deadly milestones
As Americans prepare to celebrate this darling holiday, the nation is laying dark groundwork in the fight against the novel coronavirus.
“The current record outbreak is causing uncontrolled spread in the community and infection that has already overloaded health systems in some areas and which will eventually consume the capacity of our health system and could reduce the availability of care in many places. of our country, ”warned three American medical and health organizations in a statement released last week.
The American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association and the American Nurses Association have joined with many other health experts in urging Americans to cut back on traditional gatherings to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“We – the doctors, nurses, hospital and health system leaders, and public health professionals on the front lines of this pandemic – strongly urge everyone across our country to responsibly celebrate, at a small scale that limits the spread of the virus, reduce the risk of infecting your friends, family and others you love. ”
Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also urged Americans not to travel on Thanksgiving and only celebrate with members of their own households.
“What is at stake is the increased risk that one of your loved ones will fall ill and then be hospitalized and die during the holidays,” said Dr Henry Walke, who heads the Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections. of the CDC.
“People who have not lived in your household for the 14 days preceding the celebration should not be considered members of your household, and you should therefore take these extra precautions, even when wearing masks in 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 take a look at your family and say, ‘Is there a person out there who is an elderly person, someone with an underlying medical condition that could put them at increased risk. of serious consequences if they are affected? want to take that risk now? ”infectious disease expert Chris Cuomo told CNN on Thursday.
Some families will take security measures
The Mott poll found that some parents were planning to take extra precautions suggested by health experts during their Thanksgiving celebrations.
Only 18% of parents in the survey planned to involve people from out of state.
Three-quarters said they would try to limit contact between their child and high-risk guests, including elderly grandparents and people with health conditions, while two-thirds of parents will ask guests to maintain social distance.
These best formulated intentions can be difficult to apply with small children, Clark warned.
“It can be difficult to maintain the distance between children and high-risk adults throughout a multi-day visit or even over a long dinner,” she said.
Clark recommended talking with the kids ahead of time about the importance of wearing masks, social distancing, and keeping your voice low, as singing or screaming sends more viruses into the air than just talking.
Still, “parents should be realistic about the feasibility of limiting contact and carefully consider whether to reunite in person with high-risk family members,” Clark said.
“The prudent thing to do right now is just to step back and keep her within the family unit you live with instead of bringing in people from the outside.”
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