No, none of us are completely safe from covid-19.

If you're going to Grandma's house or anywhere else, please protect yourself and those you love.

The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control offers recommendations for a safer Thanksgiving during the pandemic. 

• Keep gatherings small.

• Ensure proper social distancing and mask-wearing.

• Consider outdoor celebrations if weather permits.

• Bring more loved ones together safely using video meetings.

• Limit activities in the 2 weeks before holiday gatherings to reduce virus spreading. 

Lower-risk activities

The Centers for Disease Control recommends:

• Small dinners with only people who live in your household
• Preparing traditional family recipes for family and neighbors, especially those at higher risk and delivering them in a way that doesn’t involve contact with others
• Having a virtual dinner and sharing recipes with friends and family
• Shopping online rather than in person
• Watching sports events, parades, and movies from home
• There is no evidence that handling or consuming food is associated with covid-19

Travel
Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others.

If you must travel, short trips by car with members of your own household with no stops along the way. Those traveling longer distances by car should remember that many of their favorite “stopping places” may be closed.

“Drive-through only” may also mean restrooms are closed and travelers should plan accordingly.

If you must travel, be informed of the risks involved.

The CDC offers more travel tips here.

Be positive you’re negative

As with any disease, you can be well today and ill tomorrow. 

DHEC urges you to be tested before and after holiday travel or events.

DHEC testing is free, doesn’t require insurance, and testing options have expanded to include shallow nasal testing, an oral swab, or a saliva test at different locations.

With hundreds of testing sites in South Carolina, find a testing location near you by visiting scdhec.gov/findatest or calling 1-855-472-3432.

Look for the sites marked “free.”

Community partner testing sites may ask about insurance, require referrals or appointments, or be low- or no-cost.

Answer the call  
If you test positive for COVID-19, one of DHEC’s trained case investigators will call you.

Please answer the call. 

Information collected by DHEC is voluntary and confidential.

This information helps keep those around you safe while helping us learn more about the virus. 

Further Recommendations
View DHEC’s Thanksgiving safety tips at scdhec.gov/holidaytips.

The CDC provides a complete set of recommendations.

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