Peterborough Public Health Releases Suggestions for a Safe Thanksgiving

Peterborough Public Health (PPH) released on Wednesday several recommendations for celebrating Thanksgiving in a COVID-safe way.

Larry Stinson will act as the interim CEO of Peterborough Public Health until Dr.Thomas Piggot assumes The role on Dec. 1. File photo.

“Celebrating Thanksgiving with friends and family is an important part of the holiday. To protect our vulnerable residents, we recommend family and friends screen for COVID-19 symptoms before attending any gatherings. Please stay home if you are feeling unwell or have symptoms,” said Donna Churipuy, Director of Public Health Programs. “This is especially important if celebrating indoors with people who are only partially vaccinated or not vaccinated yet.”

For a lower risk gathering PPH suggests to:

• Plan a small gathering of fully vaccinated individuals, indoors or outdoors.

• Plan a small gathering outdoors of individuals with mixed vaccine status (where some are vaccinated, some are only partially vaccinated or not vaccinated).

• Before anyone comes in your home, check to make sure they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms, have not been identified as a close contact of someone who has COVID-19, and are not waiting for a COVID-19 test result.

• Connect with family and friends virtually.

• Stay local, and try to limit travel.

• Continue to practice good hand hygiene.

• Use face coverings in moderate to high risk settings, and whenever required in public spaces.

The following activities are considered moderate risk:

• Small gatherings of individuals with mixed vaccine status, indoors with masking where distancing is not possible.

• Medium-sized gatherings with individuals attending who are not vaccinated, or partially vaccinated.

• Sharing drinks or food.

It is recommended to avoid:

• Going to social gatherings, including religious services, if you are sick, awaiting testing results, or are a close.

contact of someone with COVID-19.

• Large crowds or events - follow capacity limits, social distancing, and masking rules if you decide to attend.

Self-screening can be done online here.

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