Valley City  (CCHD)  City County Health District in Valley City is advising all across the U.S. to be safe and stay home this Thanksgiving.

The News Release states:

North Dakota’s COVID-19 mortality rate is one of the worst in the world according to the CDC. Making matters worse, the state is also experiencing a shortage of nurses—and has only recently received aid from the U.S. Air Force who will be sending some nurses to ND. We may not have enough health care workers to care for all the people in ND who are getting COVID-19.

Now is the time to avoid activities that will spread the virus in order to save lives and help our economy get back on track. Many COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic or mild, which is a reason to be more cautious, not less. Even if you feel fine, you could pass the virus to more vulnerable individuals who might suffer severe symptoms and complications.

Quality time with loved ones is precious, especially time spent with elderly members of the family, but gatherings during this time put them at high risk when they are already more susceptible to the virus. Across the country we’ve seen that large indoor family gatherings (funerals/weddings) can easily become super-spreading events.

The safest is to stay with the people in your ‘bubble’. Traveling and including out-of-town guests in gatherings substantially increases the risk of spreading COVID-19 across multiple communities.

Three different vaccines will shortly be available, so patience is called for. In the meantime, we feel gratitude for what we value: our family, friends, community and financial security. Take prudent steps—wear a mask with anyone outside of your bubble, do social distancing and hand washing to protect what we value.

For more information on COVID-19 go to www.health.nd.gov and click on coronavirus (more information) or call their hotline at 1-866-207-2880 or contact City County Health District about any concerns or needs that you may have (845-8518). If you or your family would need a cloth mask, they can be obtained at City County Health District.