One-third of parents in new survey say holiday gatherings are worth the risk of COVID-19

A third of parents polled in a new poll say it’s important that they see their children in person during the Thanksgiving holiday this year, despite warnings from public health officials to forgo the festivities due to the pandemic of coronavirus.

One-third of parents said the benefits of getting together as a family on Thanksgiving are worth the risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19, according to the CS Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health survey.

More than half of respondents said the pandemic has resulted in “a substantial decrease in the time their children spend with extended family members,” and 61 percent said they plan to reunite with family enlarged.

“In this unique situation, children may be better served if parents think about how to preserve family traditions without a face-to-face meeting,” poll officials said. “Parents may want to talk with kids about their favorite Thanksgiving foods, decorations, or activities, and then use that information to plan a virtual celebration that includes family members in different locations.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines encouraging all Americans not to gather in person for the Thanksgiving holidays this year, as many states are seeing a sharp increase in cases, hospitalizations and deaths from coronavirus.

“Travel can increase your chances of contracting and spreading COVID-19. Postponing the trip and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year, ”the CDC said. “It’s important to talk with the people you live with, your family and friends about the risks of traveling on Thanksgiving.”

The Mott poll indicated that most Americans are at least aware or take seriously the potential risk that the in-person rally creates this year, although some suggest they are willing to take a chance to see their loved ones.

More than three-quarters say it is very important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during a family reunion, but 53% said it is very important for their child to see their extended family for the holidays.

The new survey, conducted in August, is based on responses from 1,443 parents with at least one child under 12. The margin of error for the results is between 1 and 3 percentage points.