Danvers Thanksgiving Guidance: 'Keep It Small'

DANVERS, MA — Danvers officials are asking residents to keep it small to keep family and friends safe this Thanksgiving.

The town sent out a message to residents Friday asking: "If you host a holiday celebration, keep it small and participate in low- to moderate-risk activities. If you are considering travel, please be aware of Massachusetts travel orders."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for risk level can be found here, with state guidance here.

Examples of low-risk Thanksgiving activities are having a small dinner with only family members in the same household, cooking together over a video chat and having a video call with family and friends.

Coronavirus rates in Danvers jumped again over the past week and are now at the highest they have been since the state began publicizing town-by-town data this summer.

North Shore Medical Center President and cardiologist Dr. David Roberts cautioned area residents about bigger gatherings with extended family during a virtual town hall in Salem on Thursday. He said he is especially worried that younger people contracting the virus in the weeks leading up to the holiday with spread it to older members of their family over Thanksgiving dinner without even knowing it.

"I am the Grinch," Roberts said of his holiday advice in 2020. "The greatest gift you can give to an at-risk relative is celebrating the holidays remotely.

"My advice to everybody is to wear a mask at all times and socialize outdoors."

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