The Louisiana Hospital Association is pleading with residents to hold Thanksgiving gatherings with immediate household members only, otherwise, they fear a further post-holiday spike that will stretch the state’s healthcare workforce too thin.
“So nationally some of the data that they’ve followed some of the spikes have been related to the 4th of July holiday, and so yes holidays and large group gatherings are in general linked to spikes,” said Our Lady of the Lake Pulmonologist Dr. Abdulla Moosa,
Thanksgiving is traditionally is one of the largest travel periods in the US when families gather around the table, however, this year the gathering increases the chances of spreading COVID to family members, and it could be fatal for those that are vulnerable. In addition to post-holiday spikes, Dr. Moosa said in-home gatherings are also responsible.
“One of the things that was reported nationally was that some of the second bursts of COVID that were being seen were actually because of smaller group gatherings in people’s houses,” said Moosa.
Dr. Moosa said while it’s hard to envision yet another holiday out of the norm, it’s critical that we all work together and abide by mitigation efforts until the population is vaccinated.
“Now that the cases in the community have picked up there needs to a heightened level of concern. Nobody wants to go back to where we were in March, April and so it’s going to take a community effort,” said Moosa.
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