After more than half a year living under the cloud of COVID-19, mostly staying close to home, if not mostly inside our homes, avoiding elderly or vulnerable relatives at highest risk of COVID-19 death and complications, we all yearn for a return to normalcy and family get-togethers. Yet with the nation and Ohio facing a new coronavirus surge that’s set records in Ohio on a near-daily basis this week, how can we plan safely? And how can we dispel the fear shadowing the holidays this year?
Many of us yearn to renew family ties and take our minds off this pandemic -- especially Thanksgiving next month, and Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa in December. Many of us might hope to get on the road, or board planes, to mark these important moments with other family members we’ve only seen on Zoom screens, or not at all.
But how to celebrate holidays that feature the kind of close togetherness, the sharing of meals, the inside gatherings that experts have tagged as a leading driver of current COVID-19 transmission?
Gov. Mike DeWine has already called on Ohioans to put safety first and wear masks indoors even with family members (seriously complicating the consumption of the turkey and fixings).
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has gone farther, urging Americans in high-surge areas to consider canceling big Thanksgiving gatherings in their entirety this year.
And how to assure that the kids home from college or the grandkids visiting from states where COVID-19 positivity rates are high are not a bundle of COVID germs? A two-week quarantine just doesn’t seem practical.
Cleveland.com’s Julie Washington has compiled recommendations from experts on making Thanksgiving safer, including throwing open the windows, assigning one person to do all the serving, setting chairs six feet apart at the dining table, holding a series of smaller celebrations over the Thanksgiving weekend. But none is fail-safe.
What about the December holiday season? Mail-order all the gifts? Do a Zoom Christmas or Hanukkah with loved ones? Attend religious ceremonies remotely? Do the holidays only with a pre-set family “pod” that already lives together? Or figure out a way to exchange gifts and mark these holy moments together with other family members?
Members of the editorial board roundtable share how they’re planning for, or thinking about, the COVID-19-shadowed holidays this year.
Ted Diadiun, columnist:
A question that haunts many of us: Are we OK with our kids and preschool grandkids flying home for the holidays? I love my family, and would willingly die for any of them. But would I risk dying in order to have Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas morning with them? That doesn’t make sense ... does it?
Thomas Suddes, editorial writer:
No loaf of bread, no jug of wine, no thou. Instead: a can of soup; a box of Triscuits; a case of Diet Coke.
Eric Foster, columnist:
I’ll be honest. The coronavirus is not going to keep me from my mama’s holiday cooking. In the words of Marshawn Lynch, “You know why I’m here.” My plan is to show up, make my plate, wrap it in foil, and take it back home. So, in reality, that’s not entirely different from other years.
Lisa Garvin, editorial board member:
My 91-year-old mother is understandably cautious about social gatherings, but also weary after decades of preparing Thanksgiving dinner. We’re having a tiny family potluck and praying that the surge in COVID-19 cases won’t derail our plans. Christmas gatherings are still questionable, but at least my gift-buying is almost done. Shopping local is encouraged!
Victor Ruiz, editorial board member:
While Thanksgiving will be small and intimate, I have no idea about Christmas. I am looking forward to Halloween, where we will place candy bowls at the end of our driveway. While not ideal, at least we’ll be able to see the smile on children’s faces, and wave to their parents, from the safety of our porch.
Mary Cay Doherty, editorial board member:
Our 45-year-old traditional extended-family Christmas Party will be held at a restaurant party room for safer distancing. And we will take sensible precautions for the smaller Thanksgiving and Christmas Day gatherings: Seat people by household; designate food servers; open windows. But, aside from minor modifications, we will celebrate the holidays as we normally do.
Elizabeth Sullivan, opinion director:
I love pulling that perfectly roasted turkey from the oven, plus all the fixings -- from the cranberry relish to the green beans, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and yeasty rolls. But in COVID times, with my son coming right from college to home, I’m thinking boxed meals (sigh) and a lot of social distancing. Safety first!
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* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.
* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial board roundtable to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
The Link LonkOctober 24, 2020 at 04:59PM
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Holiday planning amid the pandemic - cleveland.com
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