While it may be tempting to ease the stress of our everyday lives with a traditional Thanksgiving gathering next week, Guthrie County Public Health urges residents to make adjustments to have a safer holiday for those at a higher risk for COVID-19 or influenza complications.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. While staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others, Guthrie County Public Health Director Jotham Arber says if you do travel this Thanksgiving, to check travel restrictions before you go, get a flu shot ahead of time, and to bring extra supplies like face masks and hand sanitizer, “Now’s not necessarily the time to throw caution to the wind especially with some of our more vulnerable family members. I think we need to look and identify those most vulnerable and protect them by not having large gatherings. I don’t think that our recommendation is that you should have any gatherings, I think that our recommendation is to really evaluate what those gatherings look like, have smaller gatherings, find ways to protect those most vulnerable in your family by having masks when you can’t socially distance, making sure that you’re taking extra time to clean and cook and separating tables so if you’ve got family members that are from other households that are coming over that you’re distancing yourself.”

To make a celebration safer, the CDC recommends bringing your own food, drinks, plates, cups, and utensils, and if you’re the host, have conversations with guests ahead of time to set expectations for celebrating together. Other new activities to consider include scheduling a time to share a meal virtually, safely prepare dishes and leave them on the doorstep of family and neighbors, or write down things you’re grateful for and share them with friends and family.