CDC Director Warns of COVID-19 Risks at Small, Home Gatherings

Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that while large, ''superspreader'' events can transmit COVID-19, small gatherings at home also can put you and your family at risk. With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, many Americans are planning to spend the holidays at home with close family and friends.

Redfield said that while people are observing precautionary measures such as wearing masks and social distancing in public, they should not overlook the same safety and security measures in the home to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission during family gatherings.

''What we’re seeing as the increasing threat right now is actually acquisition of infection through small household gatherings,'' Redfield said, according to Eat This, Not That! ''Particularly with Thanksgiving coming up, we think it’s really important to stress the vigilance of these continued mitigation steps in the household setting.''

A whopping 71% of COVID-19 cases in San Bernardino County occurred after family gatherings in July, according to ABC7.com. In comparison, 3% of those infected said they attended a religious gathering, while another 3% attended a protest within the 14 days prior to their illness.

''Gathering with family and friends from other households — chatting, laughing, and having a great time — is precisely how this virus spreads,'' read a statement from county officials. In Maryland, 44% of new cases were linked to family gatherings, according to Eat This, Not That!

The CDC has been issuing guidelines for safe gatherings since the beginning of the pandemic, stating that any type of prolonged interaction with other people, especially indoors, increased the risk of infections.

The CDC guidelines suggest that meeting virtually with family and friends over Thanksgiving dinner is the safest route to follow. According to ABC News, many families have already told their relatives that Thanksgiving will be celebrated virtually. Some, however, are going forward and have decided to set up picnic tables outdoors spaced at least 6 feet apart despite the dire warnings of healthcare officials.

Experts say that if you do plan to travel to visit relatives, try to control your environment.

Dr. William Tseng, an internal medical physician at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, said that the best thing you can do to minimize your risk is travel in your own car and avoid so-called ''hot spots,'' where coronavirus cases are high, he told CBS8, a San Diego-based affiliate.

He cautioned, however, that while it’s nice to visit family and relatives on Thanksgiving Day, the last thing you want to do is transmit the disease to your parents or other relatives who may be at increased risk of complications from the disease. Dr. Tseng told CBS8 that he uses Zoom to keep in touch with his own parents during the holidays.