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US COVID-19 infections rise as Americans prepare for Thanksgiving - ABC News
Nov 24, 2021 1 min, 32 secs

"If you're vaccinated, and hopefully you'll be boosted too, your family can enjoy a typical Thanksgiving holiday with your family.

However, although there is hope for a return to pre-pandemic normalcy this holiday season, there are renewed concerns brewing among health experts that yet another coronavirus surge could be on the horizon, as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations increase again across the country.

Michigan is currently reporting the nation's highest new infection, with the state now averaging more cases than at any other point in the pandemic, with health officials now warning that patients are being turned away or placed in hallways due to lack of beds and staffing.

New York, which is set to welcome thousands of visitors to the streets of Manhattan for its annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, had maintained relatively low COVID-19 infection figures in recent months.

This uptick could be further exacerbated, experts say, by the high number of Americans traveling, and with unvaccinated and vaccinated family members mingling indoors, particularly in states with colder climates.

Although positive COVID-19 cases among the vaccinated do appear to be on the rise, due to waning immunity, health officials say the vast majority of infections and severe hospitalizations are among the unvaccinated.

In September, unvaccinated individuals had a 5.8 times greater risk of testing positive for COVID-19, and a 14 times greater risk of dying from it, as compared to vaccinated individuals.

Public health experts continue to advise caution to minimize COVID-19 risk, beginning with getting primary vaccinations, if eligible, and receiving a booster shot before traveling for the holiday in order to increase protection against the virus

If certain family members are unvaccinated, immunocompromised or elderly, and thus at increased risk for severe illness, CDC guidance recommends people take precautions by getting tested before the holiday, wearing masks and if possible, gathering outdoors, which is safer than indoors

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