Thanksgiving is a holiday that鈥檚 normally celebrated with huge gatherings and food like turkey, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole assembled all across the dinner table 鈥� but this year鈥檚 celebration will look much different.
Some families are debating whether or not to gather with their whole family or travel to see their loved ones. On Wednesday during a press conference outside city hall, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and other city leaders advised residents to stay home because 鈥渢he worst of the coronavirus pandemic is yet to come.鈥�
COVID-19 numbers in the state of Texas continue to skyrocket. In the City of Dallas, numbers are looking worrisome and hospitals are filling up. There have been more than 111,000 positive cases and 1,100 deaths total in Dallas County.
Holiday Season is around the corner. Follow advice from the public health community to keep you and your family safe from COVID-19.
— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ)
馃殫 Avoid traveling
馃懆鈥嶐煈┾�嶐煈р�嶐煈� Celebrate w/ household members
馃嵔 Handle meals safely
馃樂 Mask up
馃Ъ Wash your hands
馃鈥嶁檧锔� Social distance馃
鈥淚鈥檓 imploring our residents of this great city 鈥� especially as they consider whether or not they should gather together with their friends or family 鈥� to take this virus seriously,鈥� said Johnson.
City leaders say if this guidance isn't followed, they fear the fallout in the weeks ahead. Johnson is urging residents to prepare safely for this holiday season.
鈥淚f you really want to express love and concern and care and compassion and consideration for your family members and your friends at this time the best thing that you can do is create that distancing,鈥� said Dr. Kelvin Baggett, the city鈥檚 Coronavirus and Healthcare Access Czar.
Baggett recommends Dallas residents should practice social distancing, continue to mask up and to keep gatherings to only those who live in your household.
Later that day, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that no statewide lockdown is coming. The mayor said it will be up to people in Dallas to turn things around and stressed the importance of wearing masks and staying socially distant.
鈥淚'm a practical person. My job is to the extent that I can to save people's lives. I am going to share with the governor everything I've heard from the healthcare community, but we need to be realistic and take it into our own hands for our safety,鈥� said Johnson.
Got a tip? Alejandra Martinez is a corps member and writes about the economic impact of COVID-19 on marginalized communities for 四虎影院. Email Alejandra at amartinez@kera.org. You can follow Alejandra on Twitter .
四虎影院 is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider today. Thank you.
