For a great number of Highlands residents, travelling for Thanksgiving to see friends and family is a yearly tradition.
Like most activities in 2020, the thought of going home for the holidays has come with some additional stress due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
While staying in place and not getting together to break bread, watch football and enjoy a slice of pumpkin pie may seem outlandish to some, it is probably the safest call as COVID-19 case numbers locally, statewide and nationwide continue to trend the wrong direction.
In Macon County active case numbers reached single digits for a brief few days over the summer. Much of the past three months has seen the active case number hover between 20-30 from week to week.
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Macon County reached 40 active positive cases. As of Tuesday, Nov. 17, that number had jumped to 65 active positives. There have been two active positive cases at Highlands School and two among staff members at the Eckerd Living Center in the past week.
Anyone who decides to stay home and spend their Thanksgiving holiday with only their immediate family (within the same household) should not feel at all guilty for letting a holiday pass.
Indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s most recent COVID-19 executive order, and after dealing with the pandemic for 10 months everyone should be allowed to error on the side of caution without being pressured to do otherwise.
By the same token, there will undoubtedly be folks who decide to keep to their traditions and gather for a large family meal. If that is a choice they are comfortable with for themselves and their families then so be it, but let’s all be as responsible as possible – wear a face covering, avoid close physical contact and wash hands often.
COVID-19 appears to be making a comeback and as the weather turns colder, and the confirmed case numbers back up that assertion. We are each responsible for making sure our families have a happy, and most importantly healthy, Thanksgiving.