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1. Every Tricky Thanksgiving Question You
Have This Year, Answered By Experts
The biggest issue my family tackled in Thanksgivings past was whether to roast our
turkey or fry it. (My answer is to fry it. Fight me.) This year, the top question is how
to celebrate Thanksgiving safelytogether. It's been such a long year apart, but should
we even gather at all? What if we all get tested? I have so many questions, and I
know I can't be the only one.
"This year we need to plan much ahead and take all precautionary measures as
much as possible, especially if you are planning any travel or events at your
house," Dr. Sunitha D. Posina, MD, board-certified internist in New York tells
Romper.
But, what exactly do those measures entail? The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) has released guidelines for safely participating in Thanksgiving
activities amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Much like
for Easter and Halloween this year, their list recommends skipping traditional large
gatherings in favor of small dinners with only members of your household and
socially-distanced, outdoor events with virus-mitigation measures firmly in place.
Even with this guidance, families may still have questions about how to safely
participate in some beloved Thanksgiving traditions. Can your yearly game of front
yard football happen? Should one person serve the food, or is buffet-style safer? Can
my favorite Aunt Sally fly in from Nebraska?
Although the CDC has labeled specific activities like post-holiday in-person shopping
and attending crowded parades as "high risk," that doesn't mean all hope is lost for
celebrating Turkey Day with family. Read on to see what experts have to say in
answer to some of the biggest — and most specific — questions about celebrating
Thanksgiving safely.
1. Howlate is too late to pod up withsomeone for Thanksgiving?
Similar to how families create educational pods to minimize exposure to COVID-19,
but still reap the benefits of socialization, podding with another family for
Thanksgiving is one potential way to safely gather.
"There is still time to create a pod with another family in order to celebrate
Thanksgiving or the other holidays," Dr. Natasha Bhuyan, One Medical provider and
Regional Medical Director, tells Romper.

2. When podding, communication about potential virus exposure risk is key because
the concept only works if everyone follows the same guidelines. "Everyone in a
social pod should agree to limit or even eliminate interactions with others outside of
the pod," Bhuyan explains. Try starting two weeks before the big day with these
restrictions.
2. Is it safe to play football in the front yard this year?
Thanks to what researchers now know about how COVID-19 is spread, Bhuyan says
that playing football outdoors is probably a go. She does note however that
"participants should still wear a mask" while playing "because they will come into
contact with each other."
If you prefer to enjoy the game from the sidelines, it's probably best to wear a mask
as well since Bhuyan notes that "when people are yelling or cheering, they increase
the risk of COVID-19 spread." Either that, or keep your distance and your cheers to a
minimum.
3. Can I bring my baby to Thanksgiving if it's outside and socially
distant since they can't wear a mask?
The CDC does not recommend that children under age 2 wear a mask, so if you're
attending a gathering with your baby, evaluating other risk factors is key. As for the
specific situation with an outdoor, socially distanced event, Bhuyan tells Romper,
"This really depends on the risk factors of the people you will be interacting with."
She also notes that "it’s important to remember that infants and children are able to
both contract and spread COVID."
4. What questions shouldI askthe host if I'm invited to a family
member's home for dinner?
"The most important consideration is the guest list, including how many people are
invited, their relation to each other, and their own health status or risk factors,"
Bhuyan tells Romper.
Asking about testing, whether masks are required, whether the event is indoors or
outside, and how much room there will be for social distancing are also key
questions to ask the host if you are invited to someone else's gathering. Getting the
answers to these will help you make an informed decision.

3. 5. What is considereda "safe" amount of people at a Thanksgiving
dinner?
Bhuyan tells Romper that there is truly no "ideal size" for a Thanksgiving gathering.
"The reality is: the more people in the pod or event, the higher your risk of
spreading COVID," she says. "I advise my patients to limit their pods to two to three
families and aim for less than 10 people, including adults and children. The best
guest list should be small and restricted to people who are already in a social bubble
together or are at lower risk."
6. Is getting testedbefore a Thanksgiving gathering necessary?
"If you do not live in the same household as your Thanksgiving guests, getting tested for
COVID beforehand is a good idea and can help prevent possible transmission," Los
Angeles-based physician Dr. Bita Nasseri tells Romper. "Make sure that you are getting
tested close to the holiday to ensure that the results are accurate. You should get tested no
earlier than 72 hours before gathering in order to get the most up-to-date results, and also
make sure that you receive a negative test to show the host before you go to their home."
However, Posina explains that due to the incubation period of anywhere from two to 14
days, "If you contracted the virus today or yesterday and tested for it today, it would be a
negative result," so the best way to go about testing for a specific event is to "quarantine
at least a week prior to testing," and then continue quarantining after you take your test
until it's time for the Thanksgiving gathering. This will ensure that, if your test is
negative, it remains accurate.
7. Is indoor Thanksgiving safe? Howcan I make it safer?
While indoor gatherings with those who are not a part of your own household are
considered to be high risk per the CDC, should you choose to have an indoor
Thanksgiving celebration, precautions like testing prior to the event (while not
foolproof) can help make the event safer. "Face masks should always be used
anytime you will be in contact with people other than household members," Posina
tells Romper. "In addition, social distancing and hand hygiene are very important,
too, if you are planning on attending gatherings."
If there is any doubt about your attendees' ability to follow safety measures, an
outdoor celebration may be the best way to go. "Emerging research indicates the
COVID is more likely to spread indoors in poorly ventilated settings. Having dinner
outside can minimize this risk," Bhuyan tells Romper.

4. 8. ShouldI keep my mask on except for when I'm eating?
"If you are attending a Thanksgiving where social distancing is not possible and testing
has not been done beforehand, I would recommend wearing a mask unless you are eating
or drinking to be as safe as possible," Nasseri tells Romper.
Nasseri adds that masks should also be worn when traveling on any form of public
transportation, or if you're in a car with others not from your household on the way to and
from Thanksgiving gatherings.
9. ShouldI quarantine myself& my family before/after the dinner?
"Doing a quarantine prior to a social event is also a good idea — especially if the
event is going to include people who are older or in vulnerable populations,"
Bhuyan tells Romper. Bhuyan also recommends testing prior to, as well as following,
events with high risk of exposure.
This is especially important if you have to travel to and from your Thanksgiving
dinner, Dr. Susan V. Lipton, MD, MPH, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Sinai
Hospital of Baltimore tells Romper. "The most sensible way to approach the holiday
is for those planning to travel to family — especially college kids — to self-
quarantine in a small, responsible pod for the two weeks before the holidays. A
negative test on top of that responsibility is even better."
10.Should I attend if older people are there, like
grandparents/seniors?
Losing out on time spent with elderly relatives — especially around the holidays —
can be heartbreaking for all involved. Keeping safety at the forefront of your
gatherings by getting tested, wearing masks, and maintaining social distance from
the most vulnerable is key. "It would be strongly advised to evaluate the level of risk
one wants to take, especially those with the elderly or the vulnerable in their
family," Posina tells Romper.
11. Howdo I politely decline a Thanksgiving gathering?
So, your Great Aunt Lisa is bound and determined to have the entire family sit at her
dining room table for Thanksgiving, but you don't feel comfortable attending —
what do you say? You probably aren't looking forward to bursting her bubble of
excitement, but finding a way to let her down gently is a must.
"Keep in mind, your tone and energy will set the context of the outcome. Given the
pandemic climate, most may understand the challenges regarding safety and
comfort," life coach and author Anita Kantitells Romper.

5. Just like so many topics during these trying times, sometimes people disagree about
the best way to safely interact, but putting the focus on you instead of the host is
key. "Handle your decline with a sensitive approach and dialogue starting with 'I'
statements, trusting your intention, and declaring any vulnerability," Kanti says.
"Indicate a brief reason — not a long-winded story that may sound like an excuse —
followed with appreciation and a plan to meet at a future mutual date."
12. Howdo I make Thanksgiving special if we don't celebrate with
family members?
Even if you can't physically get together for Thanksgiving, Kanti suggests families
can still make the day special by engaging in what she calls "social-bridging" —
connecting virtually through technology like video calls.
"Preserving new family memories doesn’t have to stop," Kanti tells Romper. "Create
modern digital albums, share online postcards, play cards, create online experiences
such as cooking together, and watch holiday flicks through screen sharing to bridge
closeness."
13. What shouldI do if my family is mad I'm not going to
Thanksgiving?
When you let your family know that you plan to stay home for Thanksgiving this
year, it's possible that you'll disappoint certain family members. If the tension spills
out as anger at dashed plans directed at you, it's important to have a game plan as to
how you'll react.
"Stay calm, focus on your breath before responding, engage in listening,
acknowledge that you hear your family member, and dissect your reason by
promoting mindfulness towards their emotions," Kanti tells Romper. "Be careful not
to repeat former unproductive patterns that lead to defensiveness and
combativeness. Post discussion, have a plan to de-stress that involves a healthy
activity."
14. What shouldI do if I'm mad that my family is not coming to
Thanksgiving?
The answer to this one is quite simple: "By not taking it personally, period," Kanti
says.
You can only control your actions. This means that even if your family decides not to
attend your Thanksgiving dinner, feeling disappointed about not seeing them is OK,
but it's important to respect their choice.

6. "Like other personal feelings to manage when we feel rejected, it’s essential to
balance our expectations while respecting our family’s decisions," she explains. "The
balance is to adjust your mindset and mind-shift into gratitude and focus on the
meaning of the holiday."
15. What's the safest way to travel to Thanksgiving dinner?
"Traveling increases your chance of contracting the virus — although airlines have
increased their measures — because of the pre-boarding activities such as taxi rides,
security checks, and more," Posina tells Romper. "It is probably best to stay home if
you want to protect yourself in the best way."
But, if your Thanksgiving plans do include traveling, keeping preventative safety
measures firmly in place is the best way to help keep your family safe. "If you do
plan to travel, then best to practice face masks, social distancing, and hand-washing
as preventative measures," Posina says. "Assess the quarantine rules and infection
rates from where you are traveling to and from."
16. What is the best way to safely make food to share at
Thanksgiving?
Arguably the best part about Thanksgiving is the abundance of delicious food. "If it
is homemade, it needs to be piping hot and covered completely until served," Lipton
tells Romper. "No matter how beautiful the turkey or pie is, cover it with foil or
plastic wrap until officially cut, which needs to be done 6 feet away from guests. If
you buy a ready-made product, heat it over 170 degrees for at least 20 minutes."
17. Shouldone host serve all the food, or can everyone go through
buffet-style?
The more people who come into contact with the serving utensils, the greater the
chance that germs will be spread. With this in mind, having one person serve the
food is ideal. "Whoever is serving should mask, scrub their hands in front of
everyone as well as having the person passing out plates scrub," Lipton tells
Romper.
18. What precautions shouldI take while traveling?
If you're flying, Lipton recommends to "get an airline that skips middle seats and
enforces mask over nose and mouth, and corrects poor manners." Other suggestions
include using wet wipes to clean hands, armrests, and any other high-touch areas
you may come into contact with. Offering a wipe of two to your seat mates won't
hurt either.
"Speak up if someone isn't complying with hygiene and ask that they move or you

7. move," Lipton tells Romper. "If you are going to drink water or nibble a snack, wipe
the cup and the package, and put your mask on at any pauses."
As for rental cars and hotel stays, sanitizing wipes are your new BFF. "Wipe down
rental car touch surfaces, gas pumps, doorknobs, phones, remotes in hotels, and
bring breakfast back to your room or wipe down an entire secluded table," Lipton
tells Romper.
19. Is there a way to safely attend Thanksgiving Day parades?
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade has gone virtual this year, but if your family
typically enjoys catching candy and watching over-decorated floats pass by at your
city's local Turkey Day parade, you may have to participate from a distance this year
in order to stay safe. "The safest way to enjoy a parade is to watch them on TV with
your family. If you must attend a parade, make sure that masks are required and
that there is proper room for social distancing (at least 6 feet between individuals),"
Nasseri tells Romper.
20. Howmuchshould I spend on a hostess gift?
"While a hostess gift for Thanksgiving dinner is not necessary, it will be greatly
appreciated. In the spirit of the season, it’s more about the thoughtfulness, rather
than the price," Brittany Anderson, a content manager for party planning website
The Bash, tells Romper.
Even though it's certainly not required during these uncertain times, if showing up
empty handed just feels wrong to you, spending anywhere from $10 to $25 to show
your appreciation for the host's time and effort is appropriate, Anderson says.
"Something like a bottle of wine or bouquet of fresh flowers is always a solid go-to,
and can be used or displayed during the celebration." This is especially nice if your
host is going above and beyond to keep things socially distant and safe.
21. ShouldI mail my hostess gift,or is it safe to bring in person?
Whether you're attending a gathering in-person and questioning the safety of
handing over a gift that has been in your potentially germ-ridden hands, or want to
show appreciation for the host of a virtual Thanksgiving gathering, there are plenty
of options for mailing hostess gifts.
"If you’re looking to make a grand gesture or are celebrating virtually, you can book
a quick performance from a musician like an acoustic guitarist or singer — both are
offering virtual services right now," Anderson tells Romper. "It’s safe to bring a gift
in person, however, you can ship a bottle of wine — which can get costly — or send
a bouquet of flowers or seasonal plant to the house prior to the Thanksgiving
celebration."

8. Experts:
Brittany Anderson, The Bash
Dr. Natasha Bhuyan, One Medical provider and Regional Medical Director
Anita Kanti, author of Behaving Bravely: How to Mindshift Life’s Challenges and
founder at Anita K Solutions
Susan V. Lipton, MD, MPH, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Sinai Hospital of
Baltimore
Dr. Bita Nasseri, Los Angeles-based physician
Dr. Sunitha D. Posina, MD, board-certified internist and locum hospitalist in New
York