Like everything this year, Thanksgiving will look a different. With Covid-19 cases surging across the state, medical professionals are urging to keep things quaint.
“Despite the stress and isolation experienced this year, there is always something to be thankful for,” says Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s largest independent homeowners insurance agency.
Thanksgiving is about generosity and gratitude. Just because it is different does not mean it cannot be celebrated. If you are looking for guidance on how to safely celebrate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommendations separated into three sections: low-risk activities, moderate risk activities and high-risk activities.
Low Risk
- Having a small dinner with only people who live in your household
- Preparing traditional family recipes for family and neighbors, especially those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and delivering them in a way that doesn’t involve contact with others
- Having a virtual dinner and sharing recipes with friends and family
- Shopping online rather than in person on the day after Thanksgiving or the next Monday
- Watching sports events, parades, and movies from home
Moderate Risk
- Having a small outdoor dinner with family and friends who live in your community
- Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
- Attending a small outdoor sports events with safety precautions in place
Highest Risk
- Going shopping in crowded stores just before, on, or after Thanksgiving
- Participating or being a spectator at a crowded race
- Attending crowded parades
- Attending large indoor gatherings with people from outside of your household
- Using alcohol or drugs that may alter judgment and make it more difficult to practice COVID-19 safety measures.
Your plans depend on your level of comfort. If you plan to get together with those outside of your household the CDC recommends the following:
- Wearing a mask
- Social distancing, stay six feet apart
- Washing your hands
- Share an outdoor meal
- If celebrating indoors, open a window
- Bring your own utensils, cups and plates, food and drinks
- Avoid going in and out of an area where food is prepared
- If sharing food, have one person serve the food and
Have a conversation with guests ahead of time to set expectations. You may decide this is a year to explore new traditions.
Real Simple suggests rather than isolating yourself, go virtual. You can host a virtual Thanksgiving and invite as many as your bandwidth allows.
- Set a place for your computer
- Schedule a time
- Coordinate the menu or make a similar dish
- Create a decorating scheme
- Get creative with family traditions, find games online to play together
Different can be exciting and fun. Most importantly, don’t let the pandemic steal your joy.
“I want to express my appreciation to our extraordinary independent agents and their staff for their hard work during an unusual year. Thank you for making GreatFlorida Insurance a success. Also, a big thanks to all our customers. It is our honor and pleasure to serve you and your families,” says Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance.
If you are looking for reliable homeowners insurance, give us a call today.
