How NC Readers Plan To Celebrate Thanksgiving: Survey Results

NORTH CAROLINA — With coronavirus cases increasing in the U.S., public health officials are urging residents to celebrate at home or take precautions. Families are faced with a decision on whether to celebrate or skip celebrations involving family and friends who they don't live with.

With a week to go until Thanksgiving, we asked North Carolina Patch readers what they're planning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 300 responses came in between Wednesday morning and early Friday afternoon. The survey is a non-scientific poll intended to show reader sentiment.

The largest portion of those who took the survey — 50.3 percent — said they're only celebrating Thanksgiving with their households. Another 42.3 percent plan to celebrate with family or friends who are outside their households, and less than 3 percent plan to celebrate virtually. The remainder said "other," with responses that included celebrating alone with pets.

The vast majority of respondents — nearly 77 percent — said they do not plan to travel this holiday, while 16.1 percent will travel locally and 7 percent will travel out of state.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention isn't recommending Thanksgiving celebrations with other households, it offers suggestions like hosting outdoor gatherings or opening windows when hosting guests. In our survey, 54.5 percent do not plan to host gatherings outdoors or with windows open. About 30 percent plan to open windows if the weather allows, and 15.4 percent plan to have Thanksgiving outdoors if the weather allows.

The CDC recommends wearing a mask around people who don't live with you for Thanksgiving. Our survey found 59.8 percent believe individuals should wear face masks when celebrating Thanksgiving with people outside their households.

Recently, Gov. Roy Cooper introduced new restrictions that affects Thanksgiving celebrations by limiting indoor social gatherings to 10 people.

When asked if readers are concerned about Thanksgiving contributing to the recent rise of coronavirus cases in the U.S. and North Carolina, 66.1 percent said yes, 26.6 percent said no, and at least 7 percent said they were unsure.

Lastly, we asked if readers had additional comments about their celebrations this year. Below are a few of the highlighted comments.

• Celebrate your family, it might be the last chance you have. Live everyday likes it’s your last.
• People should be more concerned and I do not feel they are.
• I have not seen my family in months.
• No changing a thing.
• We will only be celebrating with 4 people this year. Keeping contact at a minimum, using masks and gloves when handling food.
• LET PEOPLE MAKE THERE [sic] OWN CHOICES - THIS IS AMERICA - right? FAKE NEWS! stop scaring people.
• I just can’t live in fear and have such anxiety anymore.
• Our 50+ family, extended family & friends are changing nothing and are planning our usual T G blast. This virus is purely political and our family and friends will not cater to stupidity.
• If everyone would just wear a mask this mess might go away on its own!
• I am concerned that people are tired of being inside and they may just risk it all because it is a holiday.
• It will be just my husband and I - we are very careful, wearing a mask in public, socializing with friends outdoors, limiting contact with people, no large gatherings. We will have our son from Virginia. He will get tested and limit contact with people in the week before he comes to visit. Last year we were 15 for Thanksgiving - a very different holiday this year.
• No changes, same person every year. They just have to wear a mask while out of the guest room.
• We cancelled a road trip to Fl with family.. so staying home and eating with just one couple- family members that we see all the time.
• I'm sick and tired of all of the restriction, I refuse to live my life in fear of a virus with a 99.9% survival rate.
• Our family will only celebrate Thanksgiving with our household. We want to keep our immediate & extended family safe & healthy for all the Holidays to come over many, many years.
• Gatherings are stupid in a pandemic.
• We are expecting 2 couples, both in-state. Wii get tested prior to Thanksgiving. Therefore no masks will be needed for the day.
• People need to be safe, and to think of others, not only themselves.
• If you have a big gathering for Thanksgiving, take advantage of that opportunity to plan funerals.

Emily Leayman, Patch Staff, contributed