The Coronavirus' Effect on Thanksgiving

"Normal" is not a word many would use to describe 2020. In an attempt to find some semblance of normalcy as the holiday season approaches, many Americans have clung to their family traditions. However, we all know what that means: seeing elderly family members and possibly spreading COVID-19 even more, as cases steadily climb and the death toll surpasses 250,000. In the weeks before Thanksgiving, people have rushed to book COVID tests as fast as possible, weighing the pros and cons of visiting their extended families and having an elaborate celebration to honor possibly decades-old Thanksgiving day traditions.

Smaller Thanksgiving celebrations have also taken an unexpected toll on the turkey farming industry. As most Americans celebrated the holiday with three or four immediate family members, there has been a massive shift in demand regarding sizes of turkeys. In spring after the pandemic initially began, turkey farmers had to anticipate what Thanksgiving this year would look like, and what kind of turkeys they should breed for what is usually undoubtedly the most lucrative time of year. In an already difficult time with COVID requirements for worker safety, turkey farm owners had no choice but to make it through the season with a significant surplus of larger turkeys.

Another industry being affected by COVID are restaurants, especially small businesses or family-owned restaurants. Most years, only about 10% of Americans eat Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant. However, this year, many smaller restaurants who have been hurt by outdoor dining restrictions and limitations on the number of customers they can seat sold professionally prepared, traditional Thanksgiving-style dinners for families who didn't want the hassle of cooking. According to restaurant owner Beverly Kim, who normally would close for Thanksgiving, "People don't skimp on holidays… they still want to celebrate these major milestones. Restaurants like mine are banking on that -- that people will support us at least with event kits, and we can hopefully make it a memorable experience."

While everybody is entitled to make their own decisions during the holiday season, what's most important is keeping ourselves and our families safe. Happy holidays!

Robert Ferguson