The Center for Disease Control suggested Americans who are hosting Thanksgiving dinners have their meals outside to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The public health agency gave a number of other suggestions about how to celebrate Thanksgiving safely in updated guidance about the holiday.
In addition to an outdoor meal, the CDC said hosts should limit the number of guests they invite, talk to guests before they arrive about how they plan to celebrate and to limit the number of people in food preparation areas.
“If sharing food, have one person serve food and use single-use options, like plastic utensils,” the guidelines state.
The guidance also suggests other typical recommendations to stop the spread of the virus, such as wearing a mask and checking travel restrictions if you plan to travel over the holiday.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, said on MSNBC last week that Americans will need to make a “risk assessment” when celebrating Thanksgiving.
“You really need to make a decision,” Fauci said.
“Do I want to put that person at an increased risk by having people coming in from all parts of the country, usually in a crowded airport, without necessarily knowing if they’re infected, without having time to get tested or time to do quarantine?” he added.