Released: November 18, 2020
As Thanksgiving and the holiday season approaches, many people look forward to spending time with family and friends. This year looks much different due to the COVID-19 pandemic and residents are strongly urged to reconsider traditional holiday plans.
COVID-19 cases in Delaware County have been rising and the county has now exceeded the highest number of outbreaks since the height of the pandemic. At the height of the pandemic, there were 232 cases a day in Delaware County. 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.
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. The safest way to celebrate the holidays this year is to celebrate virtually or with just the people in your household.
“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,” said Delaware County Council Chairman Brian Zidek. “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.”
The Chester County Health Department has issued Holiday Guidance during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Holiday Guidance:
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.
The full guidance can be found here: www.delcopa.gov/publicrelations/releases/2020/pdf/COVIDHolidayGuidance.pdf