GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Area doctors are urging people to reconsider their Thanksgiving plans.
Several doctors spoke during a “Faces of COVID” press briefing, held by the Brown County Health Department, on Wednesday.
Prevea Health Doctor Manar Alshahrouri says that small gatherings of families and friends have been a significant driver in the spread of the virus.
“We’ve had our fair share of weddings that end up in funerals,” said Alshahrouri. “Funerals that end up in more funerals… I would love to have resources for [people] to engage with to understand why we make these recommendations.”
“We want to be able to get together with our families, but this is one year. Maybe get together by virtual means. That sort of thing,” said Dr. James Heise with the Door County Medical Center. “Don’t let Thanksgiving dinner become the last supper.”
Bellin Health’s Dr. Paul Casey says that with the local transmission levels in Brown County and Northeast Wisconsin, Thanksgiving gatherings post a particular risk, especially for older people.
“You don’t want to be responsible for killing your grandma…If you get together in a room with ten family members in a small space, when the community spread rate is more than 30%,” he explained. “The chances of someone catching it and not doing well is very high.”
State statistics show 18% of those between the ages of 70-79 who contract COVID-19 need to be hospitalized. Between 80-89, that number jumps to 28%.
“And 30% of those [over 70] that will be admitted will die,” Casey said. “That’s the harsh reality that we’re facing.”
If you insist on traveling, doctors say you should get creative with social distancing and limit your guest list. They did add that they’re hopeful a large scale vaccine rollout could be complete by summer of next year.
