{"id":131090,"date":"2020-11-23T09:33:18","date_gmt":"2020-11-23T19:33:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=131090"},"modified":"2020-11-23T09:33:18","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T19:33:18","slug":"give-thanks-not-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/11\/23\/give-thanks-not-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Give thanks, not COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Thanksgiving\"<\/p>\n

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> system on November 23, 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n

Aloha UH<\/abbr> ʻohana,<\/p>\n

Thanksgiving is typically a time when we gather with family and friends. But the COVID-19 pandemic makes this year very different. Protecting loved ones and ourselves takes a collective effort, and the Hawai\u2018i Department of Health is seeing that a significant number of our new COVID-19 cases are arising from social gatherings—even small ones with close friends and family.<\/p>\n

COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing throughout the continent, and the Centers for Disease Control have implored everyone to refrain from travel over the Thanksgiving weekend. Our numbers in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> are the best in the country, but we still show significant rates of community transmission. And celebrations over holiday weekends have been the source of many of our outbreaks.<\/p>\n

Governor Ige has asked everyone to celebrate Thanksgiving within their household bubbles only. I know that this is a tough request, especially during a time in which we need family and friends more than ever. But we all need to do our part to get and keep COVID-19 under control in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>—for the benefit of all.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips on how to safely celebrate Thanksgiving this year:<\/p>\n