This Thanksgiving will be the first of its kind for Anne Boyko – and, she hopes, the last.
Instead of the usual dozen family members and friends gathered at her dining room table for turkey this weekend, the 69-year-old Calgary woman will be dining alone, eating a chicken dinner, probably in front of the TV.
Thanksgiving is one of her favourite family times of the year, but the pandemic has made yet another get-together impossible.
"I have COPD and I can't risk getting COVID," Boyko explained.
There will also be no big gathering for Jean Mackey, who is diabetic. The 66-year-old Sylvan Lake woman who has celebrated past Thanksgivings with at least four and as many as 15 family members and friends, plans to get together for dinner with a friend who is in her social bubble.
"I just can't risk expanding my bubble," she said.
The holiday is made tougher by the fact Mackey and her daughter, who lives in the United States, can't get together because of the continuing border closure to non-essential travel to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
In a national address at the end of September, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a dramatic tripling of daily new cases of COVID-19, mostly among young people, signaled the arrival of the second wave of the pandemic in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec and Canadians likely wouldn't be able to gather for Thanksgiving, "but we still have a shot at Christmas."
Alberta's chief medical health officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw disagreed, saying Thanksgiving can still happen as long as people take precautions and gather within their cohorts – a bubble of up to 15 people.
She noted there is much to be thankful for this year, including the health of loved ones, health care workers, teachers and those caring for the homeless and vulnerable.
"Pre-COVID, we may have taken some of these things for granted, no more, and so it is natural for people to want to come together and celebrate Thanksgiving with a new level of appreciation," she said at a news conference.
"At the same time, we all want Thanksgiving to be a safe holiday that keeps everyone healthy."
COVID-19 is highly transmissible in social settings, but staying safe and celebrating the holidays is possible by following public health guidelines such as:
- If you're hosting a get-together, virtual options are recommended or keeping things small with your cohort in a space that allows for social distancing.
- Be clear about what your boundaries and expectations are with your guests ahead of time.
- Guests who are not feeling well, even if symptoms are minor, should stay home.
- Keep windows open (weather permitting) to increase ventilation indoors, which helps reduce airborne contaminants.
- Properly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, shared items and dishes.
- Wear a mask when not eating or drinking if you're going to be in close contact with people not in your household or cohort.
More advice for safe holiday entertaining can be found on Alberta Health's website (alberta.ca)
