Tell Us Your COVID Holiday Plans: MD Thanksgiving 2021 Survey

MARYLAND — Marylanders are likely looking forward to a more typical Thanksgiving this year after last year's celebrations were mired by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Now that the borders are open and new health and safety guidelines are in place, travel is once again high on the list for Americans who are ready to reunite with their loved ones for the holiday," AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Ragina C. Ali said in a statement. "This Thanksgiving, travel will look a lot different than last year."

In 2020, before the rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine, Maryland health officials had urged people not to travel.

Now that people age 5 and older are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine — and state health officials say more than 87 percent of Marylanders age 18 and up have had at least one dose — AAA predicts 53.4 million people will travel for Thanksgiving nationwide, up 13 percent from 2020.

About 90 percent of travelers will be on the road, according to AAA, even though the price of gas has increased more than $1 per gallon in the last year.

AAA expects more than 48 million people to be driving, 1 million people traveling by boat, and more than 4 million people flying for the holiday this Thanksgiving.

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 agency.

With many people likely to travel locally and nationally for Thanksgiving this year, Patch wants to know your holiday plans. Please take a minute to fill out the following survey. Your responses are anonymous.

This survey is meant to be an informal collection of Marylanders' opinions. It is not a scientific survey and its results should not be viewed as such.

Are you planning to travel? Tell us in the Maryland Patch survey!