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By Dan Whitcomb and Nathan Layne
(Reuters) – Americans celebrated a muted Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, sometimes only seeing their families on video after political leaders discouraged travel or large gatherings in the face of the growing coronavirus pandemic.
Thanksgiving, typically celebrated with large family dinners, has become the latest major event in American life to be altered or diminished by the coronavirus in 2020, as most US states grapple with spiraling infections and deaths. .
“All of a sudden I feel a little lonely, I have to admit,” said Janis Segal, 72, as she prepared to join family members in a Zoom call for Thanksgiving.
Eight months after the outbreak of the pandemic in the United States, most major cities remain subject to strict rules imposed by state and local authorities that restrict public gatherings, shut down businesses, and ban indoor dining in public buildings. restaurants.
On Wednesday, the United States Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional an order by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo imposing severe restrictions on the number of people who could pray in churches and synagogues across the state.
The court, which made its first major ruling since President Donald Trump’s appointment of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, found such rules violated the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution when other gatherings were allowed to be held. location.
Cuomo dismissed the court’s decision as “irrelevant” and suggested the judges were making a political move.
Macy’s traditional Thanksgiving Parade in New York City, which marked the holiday for nearly a century, has been significantly curtailed. The route was reduced from 2.5 miles to one block, and balloon handlers were replaced with specially equipped vehicles. Spectators were prohibited from lining the streets.
Confined behind a metal barricade, Brian Campbell, a 55-year-old native of Rockaway, New Jersey, called the parade “disappointing.”
‘ITS LITTLE SAD’
Moriah Hargrave of Lafayette, Louisiana, who got as close as possible to the action near the Macy’s flagship store in midtown Manhattan with hopes of seeing country singer Dolly Parton.
“We have come to eliminate a few things from our to-do list for New York,” said Hargrave, 36. “It’s a little sad to be this far away. But it’s fun to be here.”
The holiday is celebrated at a time of serious economic stress for millions of Americans.
More than 20 million people are receiving some form of unemployment benefit, and a new wave of layoffs is expected as governors impose trade restrictions in a bid to curb the spiral of infections.
Asia Foreman, who co-founded a non-profit organization with her sister to raise awareness about mental health issues, was working Thursday afternoon to complete the delivery of 500 plates of chicken, macaroni and cheese, yams and greens to Washington, DC
“We wanted to feed as many people as possible so that turkeys were off the budget,” she said. “Many people have not been able to find new jobs to support their families because of COVID. It is not their fault.”
U.S. hospitalizations for COVID-19 hit a record high of more than 89,000 on Wednesday, and experts have warned that the holiday gatherings could lead to another spike in cases and deaths.
Despite advice from the Centers for Disease Control to stay at home, nearly 6 million Americans traveled by air from Friday to Wednesday, according to the US Transportation Security Administration. This number is less than half of the same period last year.
Many Americans have not seen their loved ones in months and see the annual meeting as important enough to outweigh any possible risks.
Margaret Bullard, a public defender in Atlanta, said she and her husband had taken every precaution since the start of the pandemic, which came shortly after the birth of her 9-month-old son. They drove from their home in Marietta, Georgia, North Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with her in-laws, who were equally meticulous in limiting potential exposure to COVID-19.
“As much as we would love to see other family members, we know we would be taking a much greater risk in doing so,” said Bullard, who is co-administrator of a Facebook group for Covid-aware Georgians. “.
(Reporting by Andrew Kelly and Angela Moore in New York, Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut, Hannah McKay in Washington, DC, Emily Elconin in West Bloomfield, Michigan and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Aurora Ellis)
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