Is Coronavirus Changing Your Thanksgiving: Take Patch's Survey

ARIZONA — With coronavirus cases surging in Arizona and across the country and new restrictions and recommendations going into place, public health officials are worried that Thanksgiving could make the situation even worse. With the cold weather, it is also less feasible to have an outdoor gathering that is generally considered less risky for the virus to spread.

Arizona officials have not instituted any new restrictions as the holiday approaches, but the Arizona Department of Health Services did come out with some guidelines for celebrating Thanksgiving.

The department recommends the following:

• Celebrating outside in your yard or at a park
• Minimize the number of guests, especially those in a high-risk category
• Physically distance if you can; only hug or touch those in your household
• Wear masks if your gathering includes people from outside your immediate household
• Celebrate with your quarantine pod and virtually meet with other family members and friends
• Wash your hands before and after preparing, serving and eating food
• Use hand sanitizer, and provide each guest with a bottle of their own
• Avoid self-serve or buffets. If sharing food, have one person serve or use single-use utensils.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey also announced at his Wednesday news conference that the health department is working with Arizona's airports to provide free testing for winter visitors and snowbirds. Testing will be voluntary.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released updated guidance on Thanksgiving celebrations. Attending large indoor gatherings with people from outside of an immediate household is considered a higher risk than small outdoor gatherings or virtual gatherings.

In updated guidance issued Thursday, the CDC is now advising against traveling for the holiday.

Arizona Patch wants to know about how our readers are planning to celebrate Thanksgiving this year.

Please take a few minutes to fill out the following survey. Your answers are anonymous, but you do have the option to state your views more fully.