/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5fb444e4c6319d435d4527d5/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=8256&cropY1=419&cropY2=5063&w=1200&resize=1200,675&ssl=1 "A Third Of Americans—And Most Republicans—Will Spend Thanksgiving With People Outside Their Household, Study Finds")
Topline
Tens of millions of Americans will spend Thanksgiving with friends or family from outside their household, even as the coronavirus pandemic continues to reach new heights in the United States, according to a study from Harvard researchers, but political affiliation seems to play a big difference in holiday plans.
A family gathering for Thanksgiving.
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Key Facts
37% of U.S. adults plan to spend Thanksgiving with people outside their household, according to the study from Covid Near You, which is made up of epidemiologists from Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Among Republicans, that number jumps to 52%, compared to just 29% of Democrats and 28% of independents.
The good news for controlling coronavirus spread is that long-distance travel looks to drop significantly.
91% of survey respondents said they will not travel out of state, and among those who will, only 29% plan to fly.
The bad news about those traveling is that only 68% plan to get tested either before or after making their trip.
More than 16,000 U.S. adults were polled as part of the study, which was a survey conducted November 9 to November 13 by Covid Near You through SurveyMonkey.
Crucial Quote
“Holiday travel and family gatherings could douse more gasoline on an epidemic that already seems to be out of control,” said Laura Wronski, manager of research science at SurveyMonkey.
Chief Critics
Health experts are strongly advising against traditional Thanksgiving gatherings, warning that small gatherings are serving to fuel the current record spread. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease official, said he does not plan to gather with his children for the holiday.
Key Background
The Covid-19 pandemic continues to reach new record levels in the United States. More than 160,000 new infections on average are now being recorded on a daily basis, according to Johns Hopkins University—over four times more than any other country. A new hospitalization record has also been set every day for a week straight, according to The Covid Tracking Project, reaching 73,014 on Monday—the first time hospitalizations have ever topped 70,000. Deaths, which lag behind increases in cases and hospitalizations, have been on a steady rise since mid-October, with the death toll now averaging over 1,000 per day, according to The COVID Tracking Project.
What To Watch For
Covid cases have consistently spiked starting a few weeks after holidays that typically feature large gatherings. Cases spiked after Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. Cases were already spiking on Halloween, with gatherings then appearing to accelerate the case rise.
Further Reading
Dr. Fauci: “My Thanksgiving is going to look very different this year” (Forbes)
Maskless Parties And Crowded Beaches Across U.S. As Coronavirus Spikes Over Holiday Weekend (Forbes)
Fauci Was Right: Covid-19 Cases Are Rising Again Following Labor Day Weekend Travel (Forbes)
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