Doctors Recommend Beginning Isolation To Prep For Thanksgiving

Oklahoma doctors recommend beginning isolation and preparation for a safe Thanksgiving celebration.

The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University have even put aside their rivalry to create the Bigger Than Bedlam campaign, urging students to get tested for COVID-19 before leaving campus.

“Holidays typically bring multiple generations together, and again, the young people don't tend to get as sick with this, don't have the complications. But it's the grandparents. The parents and grandparents who are at most risk for the complications of this particular disease,” Dr. Dale Bratzler with OU Med said.

Bratzler recommends keeping family gatherings small, masked and outdoors.

“I get it. It's difficult to wear a mask when you're around your own personal family. But if they're coming in from outside from another part of the state, coming in traveling, you just simply don't know if they're infected or not,” Bratzler said.

For families reuniting for the holidays, Bratzler recommends isolating before the celebration.

“Quarantine or isolate yourself as much as possible up until you travel for the holidays. Don't put yourself in one of those locations where we know transmission is more likely to occur. Try to avoid those,” Bratzler said, referring to high-volume gatherings.

The doctor also recommends getting your flu shot.

“Influenza is in Oklahoma and that's the last thing you want to do, is spread the flu at your Thanksgiving or holiday dinner,” Bratzler said.