Despite the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) advising Americans to avoid traveling during Thanksgiving to prevent the spread of COVID-19, some Americans ignore the advice.
On Twitter, a handful of people have shared why they don’t heed the CDC warning and decide to still travel and hold Thanksgiving gatherings.
Julie Powell, author of the cooking memoir Julie and Julia, travels during the holidays and explains, “So I’m doing this stupidity. My husband is driving to the airport. I’ll send several masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, face shields in the mail. I have an antibody test. Wet ten days of quarantine when I get there.”
He continued, “The family I visit has used safe practices. We’ll postpone Thanksgiving for a few days and we’ll probably do it outside. He still feels stupid.”
So I’m doing this stupidity. My husband drives me to the airport. I have several masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, face shields in the mail. I have the antibody test. Wet wipes. Quarantined for ten days when I get there.
– Julie Powell (@licjulie) November 19, 2020
Kristin B. Tate explained to Fox Business that some people refrain from closing orders because it is unlikely and “absurd” for the police to actually enforce such an order against large families during the holidays.
Some sheriffs have already said they will not carry out such orders, although another says his troops will be “in full force.”
Conservative presenter and author Phil Valentine believes his own Thanksgiving gathering can avoid a municipal violation of COVID-19 by simply staging a riot that is one of the summer’s racial justice demonstrations that violated the social isolation requirements of different cities.
Despite Valentine’s reference to the riots, only 5 percent of this year’s racial justice protests resulted in any form of violence, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.
“I think there will be a riot in my house because of the war, just to make sure I work within the law. #Covid lock“wrote Valentine.
I think there will be a riot in my house because of the war, just to make sure I work within the law. #Covid lock
– Phil Valentine (@ValentineShow) November 17, 2020
Yahoo News medical staff member Uché Blackstock, MD said many of his patients visit home because they think a negative COVID test means they are not potentially contagious to others. The CDC explained that a person with a negative test result can still spread the virus to others.
“Okay, they’re triggered now,” he wrote. “This morning, I saw a significant proportion of patients requesting the study because they will be traveling and seeing family members at Thanksgiving. The public doesn’t seem to be * getting the message that everyone needs to stay home.”
Okay, they’re triggered now. This morning, I saw a significant number of patients requesting the study because they would be traveling and seeing their family members on Thanksgiving. The public doesn’t seem to be getting the message that everyone needs to stay home.
– uché blackstock, md (@uche_blackstock) November 20, 2020
Rural radio presenter Sean “Bubba” Powell Big D and Bubba he explained, “his father said,” that your mother and I won’t be younger … you can come, give us a virus, and we’ll die … OR, you can stay home and get the virus, or maybe we’ll die from something else anyway. None of us are promised tomorrow, so come here as fast as you can and stay as long as you can, “Bubba wrote in a tweet.
In a later tweet, Bubba added: “Regarding the related comment when it comes to government orders and home orders … you’re American … No one needs permission to visit anyone … Never forget and never take natural. Be smart this year. Do what works for you and your family. “
I am very excited to enjoy TWO #Thanksgiving gatherings this year:
1 is a small group with my wife’s family and 1 is a big gathering with mine.
I mean, people try to embarrass me and say, “I don’t care about Grandpa and Grandma,” but that’s why I go.– Bubba (@BubbaRadio) November 23, 2020
Curtis Houck, executive editor of the Conservative side of Newsbusters, said he spends Thanksgiving with his family to overcome his “crippling” depression and suicidal thoughts.
“I’m sorry, but as someone who struggled with depression for five years and then sometimes suicidal thoughts (and committed suicide five years ago), I visit my family on Thanksgiving Day. I live alone, two hours away. Try and tell me I have to spend in miserable isolation. “- written by.
I’m sorry, but as someone who struggled with depression for five years and then sometimes struggled with suicidal thoughts (and attempted suicide five years ago), I visit my family on Thanksgiving Day. I live alone for two hours. Try and tell me I need to spend it in crippling isolation.
– Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 19, 2020
New York Times writer Farhad Manjoo explained in a recent article that even though his COVID bubble is exposed to more than 100 people with his wife and two children, he still travels with his family to his parents because they miss him. He added that his family members are being tested before their trip and “we will probably return to quarantine for a few weeks”.
Nevertheless, not everyone is happy with their publicly stated decision, including a medical worker who a Times“comments in part:” I can’t make you feel like you’re making fun of our victims. “
He replied, “Everyone gets criticism and I read / swallow.”
I get everyone’s critique and read / absorb it.
I just wanted to say that this comment is interpreted as actually the doctor in the piece. not the doctor in the piece (the note is no less important and not my undermining, just not the same person) https://t.co/4NH9xYxhvp
– farhad manjoo (@fmanjoo) November 20, 2020
Finally, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, who flew to Mississippi for the holiday, despite advising others to avoid unnecessary travel to the holiday, explained his reasoning.
“I made my decision as a husband and father,” he wrote in the last tweet of a longer thread, “and to those who are angry and frustrated, I humbly ask them to forgive decisions that burden my heart and not my head. “
I have made my decision as my husband and father, and for those who are angry and frustrated, I humbly ask you to forgive decisions that burden my heart and not my head. (5/5)
– Michael B. Hancock (@MayorHancock) November 25, 2020
Nathan Howard / Getty
