Staying Safe In Arizona During Thanksgiving Dinner: CDC Guidance

ARIZONA — As Arizona residents make final preparations for Thanksgiving dinner, guidance shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows how Americans can have a safe holiday with friend and family.

The U.S. still faces high numbers of daily COVID-19 cases and after a sharp decline in the number of cases mid-Septemer, cases are once again rising though they remain below the late summer peak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Nov.17, the seven-day average for cases is just over 88,000, according to CDC data.

Cases are rising rapidly in Arizona, where case counts are already rivaling the last peak in August, even before holiday gatherings, which typically result in a noticeable uptick in cases. Health care leaders across the state are begging the public to get vaccinated and practice other preventative measures to help out hospital systems and staffers who are already stretched thin.

On Wednesday 36 new COVID-19 deaths were reported in Arizona, bringing the total to 22,098 since the start of the pandemic, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. More than 3.8 million people in Arizona have been fully vaccinated, more than 65 percent of those eligible.

A lot has changed since the CDC guidance was first issued. The Pfizer vaccine is now available to young kids between the ages of 5-11 and booster shots have gained FDA clearance for all adults.

Here’s what Americans need to know to celebrate safely through the end of the year.

The CDC says getting vaccinated remains the best way to stay safe and protect others — including those who cannot get the vaccine yet, like young children under the age of 5.

According to research from the CDC, an unvaccinated person has more than six times the risk of testing positive for COVID-19 and more than 11 times the risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to a fully vaccinated person. And while fully vaccinated people can get infected with COVID-19, they are less likely to get seriously ill or die but they can be contagious, the CDC says.

Anyone who’s not fully vaccinated should wear a well-fitted mask indoors in public and if your community has a substantial to high transmission of the virus, even those who are fully vaccinated should wear masks indoors in public, the agency writes. Children under 2 should never wear a mask, the CDC warns.

Americans should avoid crowded and poorly ventilated spaces and it’s safer to be outdoors, the agency says.

For anyone who may be sick or has symptoms, the message is to stay home and away from others. They should also get tested for the virus as should anyone who may have been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19, the agency says.

The CDC has also issued some additional guidelines, including for anyone with a weakened immune system who the agency warns may not be fully protected even if they have been fully vaccinated and have gotten an additional vaccine dose. The CDC advises that they should continue taking precautions currently recommended for anyone who is unvaccinated until their health care provider says otherwise.

And regardless of transmission levels, if someone in your household is at increased risk, has a weakened immune system or hasn’t been vaccinated, the CDC says people may choose to wear a mask in these situations.

Those joining gatherings with multiple households should take additional measures like getting tested and avoiding crowded indoor places before traveling, the agency says.

Anyone traveling for the holidays should consult the CDC’s travel page.