Delco Residents Urged To Limit Thanksgiving Events To 1 Household

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Officials in Delaware County provided guidance on celebrating Thanksgiving as the coronavirus surges in the region and nationally.

The county has "strongly urged" resident to reconsider traditional holiday plans in light of the pandemic.

The safest way to celebrate the holidays this year is to celebrate virtually or with just the people in your household.

In a news release, the county said public health investigators are linking a majority of cases in Delaware County to social gatherings and are strongly urging people to not host gatherings this holiday season.

At the height of the pandemic, Delaware County had 232 cases a day. On Nov. 18, Delaware County reported 287 cases, bringing the total of positive cases in Delaware County to 17,184. There have been 836 COVID-19 related deaths in the county.

“While it’s extremely difficult to not gather with the ones we love this year, it’s necessary if we want to mitigate the spread of the virus and protect our loved ones and the community," Delaware County Council Chairman Brian Zidek said. "It’s a small price to pay now in order to protect our community and schools and businesses who may be forced to shut down if our numbers continue to rise."

Below is guidance issued by the Chester County Health Department, which is overseeing Delaware County's public health needs amid the pandemic:

• Limit in-person holiday gatherings to only people you live with or limit to a small group of individuals with whom you are regularly in contact.
• Keep visits short – gatherings that last longer pose more risk than short gatherings.
• Host a virtual holiday dinner with extended family or friends, especially if they are at higher risk for illness from COVID-19.
• Prepare traditional family recipes for family and neighbors and deliver them in a way that doesn’t involve contact with others.

Full, detailed health guidance for the holidays is available here.