By Vanessa Saunders, MBA, MIMC , Broker Owner, Global Property Systems Real Estate.

The 2020 family feast-day holidays are upon us. Like the rest of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic will make our celebrations look and feel different. The CDC says, "When planning to host a holiday celebration, you should assess current COVID-19 levels in your community to determine whether to postpone, cancel, or limit the number of attendees." So how can you celebrate and still observe CDC recommendations for safe holidays? Here's what they suggest for a low-risk Thanksgiving.

Having a Covie-19-safe safe Thanksgiving.
Possibly the most popular of feast days, Thanksgiving presents the most pandemically dangerous traditions we celebrate. Family dinners, hugs, laughter and togetherness all put celebrants at risk. The CDC recommends we observe using the lowest risk activities possible. They offer the following suggestions:

Have a small dinner with the people in your household.
If this sounds like just every dinner at home, think of ways to make it special. Serve favorite items not necessarily associated with the holiday. Or go out on a limb and try something new.  As chef  Julia Child once said, "The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking, you've got to have a what the hell attitude." Have a virtual dinner with as many of your family and friends as you like. (The CDC's second best suggestion, having a small outdoor dinner with family and friends who live in your community is meteorologically impossible in New York in November.)

If you are typically the host for Thanksgiving dinner, the CDC suggest you prepare food for family and neighbors (especially those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 who are social distancing), and deliver it to them without person-to-person contact. It's particularly important to be cautious if you’re going to be involved in multi-generational family gatherings or spending time with anyone who is at an increased risk for COVID-19. If you are having an intergenerational gathering, New York weather means it will undoubtedly be an indoor event, so wear masks as much as possible.

Go shopping online rather than in person on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Don't put yourself in an enclosed space rubbing shoulders with strangers, even if you are wearing a mask. You can't count on other shoppers to be so considerate, and social contact outside the home is the most likely way you may become infected. Most major retailers have perfected their online shopping sites over the last few years, so unless you need to touch and feel those cashmere socks for Uncle Elmer, best to click them into your virtual shopping cart instead.

Watch sports events, parades and movies at home.
Avoid big outdoor events (the 2020 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is going to be virtual anyway). As for television sports, the NFL schedule will continue to ebb and flow as teams quarantine with every player testing positive. Maybe plan on a little round ball, hockey or women's soccer, as the NBA, NHL and NWSL are the only professional leagues playing inside a "Bubble," American sports’ so-called bubbles are tightly controlled campus environments where some leagues have elected to operate.

If we all use our heads and follow doctor's orders, most of us will survive this pandemic and get on with life. Until that happens, let us be mindful of what we need to do, and do it. To find out about anything regarding selling your home, or for more information on any real estate matter, CONTACT US.