MD Split On COVID-19 Thanksgiving Precautions: Patch Survey

MARYLAND — More than half of Marylanders will celebrate Thanksgiving with people outside their household, according to a recent survey of Maryland Patch readers. While many have planned their holiday gift shopping, about half said they had not yet purchased ingredients for their Thanksgiving feasts.

Over 57 percent of those who responded to the Maryland Patch Thanksgiving survey said they planned to spend Turkey Day with family and friends outside their household.

About 34 percent said they would be with their household only for the holiday.

We received more than 700 responses to the Maryland Patch survey about Thanksgiving and holiday shopping plans from Friday, Nov. 12, through Nov. 16. It was not a scientific survey and its results should not be used as such.

A call for Thanksgiving recipes netted a smorgasbord of favorite dishes — with stuffing, sweet potato casserole, candied yams, fried turkey and cranberry sauce leading the list.

Here are three stuffing recipes that readers shared:

Combine Ritz crackers (instead of bread) with spices (paprika, poultry seasoning, salt, pepper and garlic powder); add egg;. Sauté celery, onion and mushroom in butter, and add raw shredded carrots plus more butter. If too dry, add some water. Bake in a casserole dish at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or use as stuffing in the bird. If in the bird, make a paste using paprika, poultry seasoning, salt, pepper and garlic pepper the night before and coat the turkey, inside and out.

Mix bread, celery, onion, chicken broth, raw egg, poultry seasoning and sage. Stuff in turkey.

Pineapple stuffing:

• 5 large eggs
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed dark
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• Kosher salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Oil and vinegar
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 10 slices of white sandwich bread
• 1 20-ounce can of pineapple, juice reserved
• 1 stick unsalted butter

Although Thanksgiving is around the corner, more Maryland Patch readers had started their holiday gift shopping (55.7 percent) than had begun grocery shopping (48.6 percent) for the Nov. 25 feast.

Nearly 22 percent of readers said they were concerned about shortages, according to the survey, while more than 57 percent reported they were not at all worried about supply chain issues impacting their Thanksgiving meals.

The 2021 holiday will look different from last year's, according to many readers, in part due to the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine.

More than 87 percent of Marylanders over 18 have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Thursday, Nov. 18, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

"Last year I was by myself; this year I will celebrate with close friends," one reader shared. "We are all vaccinated."

People are considered fully vaccinated after two doses, and a booster is recommended to bolster immunity against the virus.

"All 11 family members at Thanksgiving table have been vaccinated," one Maryland Patch reader wrote. "Seniors have also had boosters shots. Children ages 10 and 11 have had their shot now that it is finally available for them."

In 2020, the COVID-19 vaccine was not widely available until the spring. Federal health authorities only authorized it for children ages 5 to 11 in early November.

"Last year my husband and I had covid on Thanksgiving," one reader wrote. "We did not celebrate!"

This holiday season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends taking precautions against the virus; people should hold off on traveling until they are fully vaccinated, and everyone should wear a mask — regardless of vaccination status — when using public transit, such as an airplane, train or bus, the CDC recommends.

Those who are not vaccinated or who are in areas with substantial to high transmission of COVID-19 should wear masks if they are indoors in public, according to the CDC.

During the Thanksgiving holiday, over 56 percent of respondents in Maryland said they would not take any precautions against COVID-19.

About 22 percent said they would be wearing a mask during their holiday celebrations, and nearly 4 percent said they would get tested for COVID-19 before Thanksgiving.

"We’re having an extended-family Thanksgiving this year because everyone is fully vaccinated and several of us have had the third booster shot as well," one survey respondent said.

More than 60 percent of those surveyed said they were staying at home for Thanksgiving, while under 40 percent of Maryland Patch survey respondents said they would be traveling this year — either locally or out of state — for the holiday.

"Usually we travel for Thanksgiving with extended family, but this year we are keeping it small, Maryland family only," one reader said.

For those who are traveling, those who responded said more than likely they would be on the road, with nearly 87 percent planning to travel in their vehicles. About 4 percent said they would fly.

See Also:

• Best MD Thanksgiving Travel Times In 2021
• Tell Us Your COVID Holiday Plans: MD Thanksgiving 2021 Survey