The medical officer of health in Chatham-Kent has a Thanksgiving warning.
Dr. David Colby said this is not the year to have large gatherings for Thanksgiving and they should be limited to immediate family and households to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Colby is asking hosts to limit the number of dinner guests. He is also asking hosts not to serve buffet-style meals but serve them on plates.
Colby said he is worried about Thanksgiving travel from hotspots like the Toronto and the Ottawa areas spreading the virus in Chatham-Kent.
"A number of outbreaks within households not only here in Chatham-Kent but around the province have been traceable to people that have come to family gatherings knowing that they were not feeling well and just hoping that everything would be OK," said Colby. "No one cherishes family time more than I do but this is maybe not the year. Particularly if people are feeling ill, they should not be joining their family for Thanksgiving dinner."
Dr. Colby is asking people to have their turkey dinner outside if possible because it's safer. He continues to warn the public that the virus is more hazardous indoors.