As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, we also need to be cognizant, as we always are, of COVID-19. For Minnesotans, on Friday, November 12, 202, Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm stated that the new case rates (5,277 on Wednesday, November 10, 2021) and death numbers (43 new deaths on the same date) are “extraordinarily high and concerning…Right now we find ourselves in a really truly alarming spike” in new cases.
So, please be cautious as you travel home and enjoy this time with your family. Before traveling you may want to:
- Get your booster shot if it has been more than six months since you were vaccinated (Pfiizer and Moderna) or more than two months since you were vaccinated (Johnson & Johnson).
- Consider getting vaccinated.
- Get tested for COVID-19, especially if you have family members who are vulnerable.
When you’re traveling and once you’re home, remember:
- Wear a mask when traveling in a car with others.
- Keep a window in the car slightly open when traveling in a car with others.
- Don’t venture out if you are sick.
- Wear a mask at gatherings with extended family members and whenever you are out in indoor public spaces.
- Avoid crowded and poorly ventilated spaces.
- Remember to physically distance.
Let’s celebrate a smart Thanksgiving holiday so that we all can return to campus safely. Together we are Saint Mary’s. Together we are stronger.
