Collier County Health Department encourages hygienic habits for Thanksgiving holiday

The Florida Department of Health in Collier County is encouraging healthy holiday habits to help residents and visitors celebrate.

Many traditional Thanksgiving activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses, including
COVID-19. There are several safe ways to celebrate Thanksgiving. The healthy holiday habits below can help keep you and your family safe.

Mask Up Against COVID-19. While celebrating Thanksgiving, it is important to remember
COVID-19 is still in our community. Ways to celebrate Thanksgiving at home include:

• Have a small dinner with only the people who live in your household. Remember:
  students visiting from college and relatives from out of state or city, county, etc… are
  considered outside of your household.
• Have a virtual dinner and share recipes with friends and family.
• Shop online rather than in person.
• Watch sports events, parades, and movies from home.

It is important to avoid the following:

• Visiting the homes of others, unless you can wear a mask or cloth face covering and
  socially distance.
• Large gatherings; per the State Surgeon General’s Public Health Advisory avoid
  gatherings of 10 or larger.
• Sharing food, cups, forks, spoons, knives, and serving utensils.
• Crowded indoor events.
• Attending crowded parades, runs, or other events.

For more information regarding virus spreading risk at holiday celebrations, visit
the Centers for Disease Controls’ webpage on holiday guidelines. For more information regarding COVID-19, visit the Florida DOH’s pandemic website.