Illinois Coronavirus: Health officials warn of spread of COVID-19 at Thanksgiving holiday gatherings

CHICAGO (WLS) – It’s a time of year when people get together with family and friends for the holiday season, but health officials say now is not the time to do so because COVID-19 is not taking a vacation break.

With what is traditionally one of the busiest travel days of the year to come, Illinois top doctor Ngozi Ezike is warning people to stay home for Thanksgiving.

“If we love Grandma, there’s no better way to say this than to stay put and give her our best love and attention virtually. We have to say ‘no’ to the super-spreading events within us. moving and getting together in groups, ”Dr Ezike said.

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This is because the state faces an alarming number of daily COVID-19 cases and a shortage of ICU beds.

Dr Ezike stressed that further restrictions could be underway if the trend continues.

“If we continue to see that the capacity of our hospitals has decreased; and that we continue to see the health workers, themselves, getting sick or being in quarantine, so that we do not have enough staff [and] the power of women in the hospital – all of this will bring us to a full stay at home, ”she said.

If you’re planning to reunite with family and friends for Thanksgiving despite calls from health officials for virtual gatherings, doctors urge you to take some precautions.

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“You have to wear a mask,” said Dr. Jay Bhatt of Medical Home Network. “You have to get more than six feet away and even open the windows to have good ventilation in the room you are in.”

However, Dr Bhatt stressed that the best protection against this deadly virus is to stay at home.

“You can’t eat and wear masks at the same time, so that’s a problem. And during the holidays, you can sing along, talk loudly and gloat, and maybe even hug someone. It’s a recipe for disaster to spread more cases and death, “he said.

Dr Bhatt said getting a negative COVID-19 test before a rally gives people a false sense of security. You can be negative one day and positive the next.