Chatham-Kent’s top doctor is urging restraint with Thanksgiving just days away.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Colby says with cases of COVID-19 continuing to rise across Ontario, this is not the year to travel or visit with family.
“We’re, at the moment, dodging the bullet here in Chatham-Kent with a very low prevalence of cases,” Colby says. “But Thanksgiving is a time when typically families get together and it’s really a worry that people could be travelling long distances from high prevalence jurisdictions to be with family in Chatham-Kent.”
The province instituted new recommendations last Friday, putting a pause on social circles and limiting contact to single households for the time being.
Colby says a number of outbreaks province-wide have been traced to people who’ve come to family gatherings even when they’re not feeling well.
“We really would ask that people try and limit the number of people for Thanksgiving to your immediate family and household, not serve buffet-style meals but prepare the meals ahead of time and serve them on plates.”
Public Health officials are also suggesting holding a family meal or gathering outside to reduce the risk of infection.
