North Carolina’s seven-day average of positive COVID-19 cases has stayed at more than 2,000 for the last three weeks. With winter and various holidays approaching, state health experts are concerned about coronavirus trends shifting further.

To help protect health ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services shared recommendations on Monday for how residents can safely celebrate.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, the secretary for NCDHHS, said last week during a media briefing the recent case increases can be partially attributed to colder weather, bringing more people indoors. But she also said a vast amount of the coronavirus’ recent spread has been among those in small-group settings who relax their mitigation efforts.

“While the safest thing we can do for our friends, family and loved ones is avoid getting together in-person, especially indoors, I know that runs counter to our holiday traditions,” Cohen said. “I know folks want and need to be together during the holidays. So, if you do decide to host or attend a holiday gathering, there are steps you can take to do it as safely as possible.”

Cohen said the health guidance suggests similar tips to decreasing the risk of exposure to the virus as the recommendations shared for Halloween or other recent holidays.

“First,” she said, “do not attend or host a gathering if you feel sick, have been diagnosed or have been exposed to COVID-19. Second, we still have gathering limits in place. Smaller is better, and outdoors is better than indoors.”

The department’s suggestion also includes people wear cloth face coverings and frequently wash their hands whenever around people who are not in their immediate, day-to-day household. The only time that wouldn’t be the case, said Cohen, is during meals. But even then, the health director suggests people sit as farther apart when masks are off.

“If you have tables,” she said, “have each group of people who live together at their own table and then keep tables at least six feet apart from one another.”

Additionally, the state department’s guidance suggests everyone going to a Thanksgiving gathering should try to receive a screening coronavirus test before traveling. A new piece of guidance from previous holidays this year, health experts now suggest getting such a test, which can alert someone to whether they’re positive to the virus even without symptoms.

Cohen reminded North Carolinians that while useful to checking those who are asymptomatic, screening tests are far from a perfect solution.

“Screening tests can miss infections, particularly if you use rapid tests, and a negative test only gives you information for that one point in time,” she said. “A negative test does not mean you’re going to remain negative.

“But simply put,” Cohen added, “think about getting a test before traveling or before gathering for holiday celebrations.”

Still, the heath director said the best way for people to stay safe and limit possible spread is following the same steps as usual: washing hands, keeping physical distance and, most importantly, wearing a mask to block your germs.

“Let’s all keep our friends, family and loved ones safe this holiday season,” said Cohen. “Remember, it’s not how well you know someone when it comes to wearing a mask. If they don’t live with you, get behind [a] mask.”

The latest guidance from the North Carolina Department and Human Services for Thanksgiving holiday gatherings can be found on the department’s website.

Photo via the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
North Carolina COVID Trends Improve Despite Low Vaccinations
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON While spread of COVID-19 remains high, transmission of the virus has noticeably declined in North Carolina over the last two weeks, according to new health department data released Monday. The data from the state Department of Health and Human Services showed a nearly 25% drop in hospitalizations in the last 14 […]
North Carolina Requiring State Health Workers To Get Vaccine
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON North Carolina’s health department will require workers, volunteers and others at 14 state-run health care facilities to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Sept. 30 unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption, according to a memo. The Associated Press obtained a departmental FAQ about the vaccine mandate that says those […]
New Coronavirus Variant Shows Up in North Carolina
State officials are reporting the first case in North Carolina of a more contagious strain of the coronavirus that was first detected in the United Kingdom in December. Officials said in a news release Saturday that the B.1.1.7 variant was identified in a sample from an adult in Mecklenburg County. No other details about the […]
North Carolina Health Officials Cite First Flu-related Death
Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS North Carolina is reporting the first flu-related death of the season as the state continues to deal with the impact of COVID-19, health officials said Tuesday. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said an adult in the western part of the state died due to complications of influenza […]
COVID Spread Plummeting in North Carolina, State Data Shows
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON The spread of COVID-19 has dropped substantially in recent weeks, according to data released Tuesday by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. For the first time since mid-July, the state reported two consecutive days of new daily cases below 1,500. Over the past two weeks, the rolling average […]
COVID-19 Surging as North Carolina Set To Ease Restrictions
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON The number of North Carolinians in the hospital due to COVID-19 has doubled in the last two weeks, the 14-day rolling average of new daily cases has increased by nearly 200% and the share of tests coming back positive is at its highest level in more than five months. The latest […]
North Carolina Moves To Limit Out-of-State Access To Vaccine
North Carolina is shifting its vaccine distribution guidance to dissuade people from traveling long distances to receive a COVID-19 shot in the state. Under updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clarifying travel policies, North Carolina has enacted stricter vaccination policies to improve North Carolinians’ access to the vaccine. “To promote the […]
1 in 37 North Carolina Vaccine Recipients Live Out of State
When Ottis Grimes tried to call a hotline after the state opened up vaccines for seniors last month, he was met with an endless supply of music as he remained on hold. Frustrated with the appointment booking process, the retired banker who lives in Lake Wylie, South Carolina, but still goes to the doctor in […]
North Carolina Prisons Get First Wave of COVID Vaccine Doses
North Carolina’s Department of Public Safety announced on Wednesday it has received about 1,000 doses of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine for inmates and prison staff. “The staff have worked so hard for so long with hope and prayer for a better day down the road,” said a statement from Todd Ishee, the state’s commissioner of prisons. […]
North Carolina Chief Justice Halts Courts for 30 Days
Non-essential in-person court proceedings in North Carolina will be halted starting Monday for 30 days due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, the chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court announced Friday. Chief Justice Cheri Beasley said in a news release that the pause is necessary to protect the health and safety of court […]
›