OMA urges Ontarians to find new ways to celebrate Thanksgiving safely

The Ontario Medical Association is encouraging Ontarians to find new ways to celebrate Thanksgiving safely this year to curb the spike in COVID-19 cases throughout the province.

While Toronto, Ottawa and Peel Region continue to be hotspots, we’re seeing a worrying climb in cases throughout Ontario as the long weekend approaches when people traditionally travel and gather with friends and family.

To prevent the further spread of the virus in all parts of the province, the OMA recommends:

• limiting indoor celebrations to members of your household, in accordance with government guidelines to “pause” social circles of up to 10 people throughout the province. If you live alone, the guidelines say you may consider having close contact with another household
• wearing masks and observing two metres of physical distance with everyone outside your household
• do not travel
• become familiar with public health guidelines in your own region through your local public health unit
• download the COVID Alert app and continue to track your activities and contacts

“Just because you may be physically distant from friends and family this weekend does not mean you need to feel socially isolated,” said OMA President Dr. Samantha Hill. “Holidays are a time when we need to connect with friends and relatives for our mental and social well-being. Please be sure to reach out to loved ones, especially the elderly and other vulnerable people, through a phone call, a virtual dessert or by dropping off a care package.”

The recommendations for a safe Thanksgiving are especially important for young people, as the majority of COVID-19 cases are among people under 40. Many Ontarians have looked forward to Thanksgiving as an opportunity to finally gather with loved ones, but these family gatherings bring individuals of younger and older, more vulnerable age groups together in close contact.

The OMA noted in its recent white paper, A Prescription for Ontario: Maintaining Vigilance as We Learn to Live with COVID-19, that tackling COVID-19 is a shared responsibility between all parts of the system as well as individuals. Part of our civic responsibility is understanding and balancing the risks of our actions to ourselves and others, especially those who are vulnerable.

“Never has a stable health-care system, at the community level, been more important as doctors  are not just  managing the  COVID pandemic, but catching up on deferred services,  and preparing for the coming flu season, all while trying to keep our patients healthy,” said OMA CEO Allan O’Dette.

The best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 remain:

• wearing a mask when indoors, in public, or outdoors if physical distancing is challenging
• keeping a physical distance of two metres, where possible
• frequent handwashing
• avoiding closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings

About the OMA

The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario’s 43,000-plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario’s health-care system. 

For more information, please contact:
OMA Media Relations at media@oma.org