The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected a lot of aspects of our daily lives. As we slowly make our way toward Thanksgiving, students consider their celebration plans given the current state of the pandemic.
Students must choose how to celebrate Thanksgiving this year with their families, while maintaining safe practices to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Although it is not the easiest thing to do, we must try our best to limit COVID-19 exposure for ourselves and for others by social distancing at Thanksgiving gatherings and practicing COVID-friendly habits, or just staying on campus.
“I am going to my grandparents’ house and spending [Thanksgiving] with my close family,” says Haley Magee, current first-year student at Capital University. She is at Capital for a major in nursing.
Magee mentioned that her family would be practicing social distancing as a precautionary measure at the gathering.
“We usually have turkey, mashed potatoes, my grandma’s homemade noodles, green beans, and we have pumpkin pie. And we don’t really have any traditions; we either have [our Thanksgiving celebration] at my grandparents’ house or my house,” Magee continued.
Another student, Amelia Morra, said that she would be having a family gathering with her parents, aunt and uncle this year. Her Thanksgiving plans will consist of having dinner with her family for the celebration.
“We would have more people and my grandma, but there is a virus,” Morra went on. Morra is a first-year student studying nursing at Capital University, also.
According to an Instagram poll posted by The Chimes, lots of students plan to go home for Thanksgiving this year. On the other hand, some said they plan to stay on campus for Thanksgiving.
“I’m going to be spending break on campus, because I feel as though traveling with family and seeing a large amount of people is irresponsible right now. Besides, I think a good old fashioned bowl of cereal is top cuisine, so I don’t think I’ll be missing much,” says Jae Merrick, a second-year student studying middle childhood education at Capital.
It is clear that Thanksgiving celebrations will be slightly different this year for students because of the pandemic. Black Friday shopping is also expected to be affected due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Another poll asked students how they would be Black Friday shopping. Only 23% of students who responded said that they would go Black Friday shopping this year, and a whopping 77% said that they would not be going.
For students who replied yes to the poll, 89% said that they would commence the shopping online. Only 11% replied by saying they would go in person.
It is important to remember social distancing, wearing masks, consistent hand-washing, and other CDC recommended habits to help limit the spread of the virus while celebrating Thanksgiving and participating in Black Friday shopping this year. Whether it be a celebration, or shopping, we must ensure that we are doing our part in order to keep one another as safe as possible.
