Thanksgiving has become one of the most celebrated family events in the US. We get together as families, dine together, celebrate together. It creates a sense of unity within the family. Needless to say, we all look forward to this day, when we can meet our family and friends and spend some nice time with them.

The History of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States, and Thanksgiving 2020 occurs on Thursday, November 26. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November*.

COVID-19 and Its Effects on Thanksgiving

This year it is different. Covid-19, unfortunately, does not understand the spirit of Thanksgiving. The infection rate has been skyrocketing, currently, it has exceeded 170,000 in a single day nationwide. Imagine adding a million new cases in less than 6 days! The hospitalization rate has been climbing and many places are maxed out on their capacity. They cannot take any new patients. Death rates are high too, mortuaries are full. Places like El Paso have bodies stored in portable cold storage trucks.

We cannot control the virus, at least not yet. But there are things we can do and if we are smart about it.

Let’s talk about the staff working in hospitals and nursing homes. Already we are seeing significant staff shortage. Many staff are working back to back 2-3 shifts. Several hospitals are at their wits end without doctors and nursing staff.

What You Can Do To Help

Let’s face it. Elderly clients who depend on their caregivers are equally vulnerable, if not more so. If the caregiver does not come, many of these wonderful people may not survive. Covid-19 did not read the script of Thanksgiving and the importance of that in our lives.

We cannot control the virus, at least not yet. But there are things we can do and if we are smart about it, we can control this to a large extent.

This Thanksgiving holiday, let’s keep it simple. No visits, no family get-togethers and no travel. Stay home and be safe.

– Your Friends at New Wave Home Care

 

 

* https://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving