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By Chantal Wagner

covid-19 recommendations

Health officials stress the importance & tips to have a healthy Thanksgiving

Oct 7, 2020 | 5:09 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB -This year will not be a normal Thanksgiving.

But we can still celebrate what we are thankful for.

Public health officials gave their reminders and recommendations over the last week on how to keep loved ones safe this holiday long weekend.

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says she wants Thanksgiving to be a safe holiday that keeps everyone healthy.

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That’s what she told Albertans during her COVID-19 update on September 24.

Before gathering, Dr. Hinshaw reminds you to stay home if you are feeling sick, or if you have any symptoms at all.

She says smaller is safer and this is not the time for large gatherings.

In a tweet on Wednesday, Dr. Hinshaw reminded again to keep gatherings as small as possible, eat outdoors if possible, and don’t share serving spoons or dishes.

Dr. Hinshaw also has some recommendations during the Thanksgiving meal.

“Please have one person plate everyone’s meals so people are not sharing serving utensils. Or even better, consider having pre-portioned servings, ordering take-out, or perhaps having guests bring their own food. If you are visiting loved ones in care, do so by appointment only and follow all facility protocols. A few common-sense precautions will help keep everyone safe.”

The province also released advice for safe holiday entertaining, which can be seen by visiting this link.

Meantime, the country’s top doctor is warning Canadians that Thanksgiving will need some “serious planning” because of the pandemic.

In a statement this week, Dr. Theresa Tam recommends layering up on clothes, heading outdoors, and keep a picnic table-length apart from those not in your ‘bubble’ and not to share food.

She says indoor dinners will be safest if small and select.

Though she did not go as far as to urge cancellations.

On Wednesday, Dr. Tam says the average daily count of new COVID-19 cases was up 40 percent last week from the week before.

That daily average rose to two-thousand and 52 over the last seven days, which is nearly 10 times the low recorded in July.

Tam says the Public Health Agency of Canada is also reporting an increasing number of COVID-19 hospitalizations.

New cases in Quebec dropped to 900 after five straight days above the one-thousand mark, while Ontario recorded 583 new cases.

(with files from the Canadian Press)