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Holidays Under Threat as Pandemic Worsens

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Government officials are imploring people to revise their Thanksgiving plans out of concern for the coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated guidance for celebrating safely on Thursday that recommends that people scale back on travel, wear masks whenever possible, bring their own food and drinks, and keep gatherings small.

Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, also recommended that instead of traveling, people send their loved ones gifts and share meals remotely via video message. Collins said his own family changed their holiday plans and will stay home in Maryland rather than travel to relatives in Michigan and North Carolina.

“Not only did we want to reduce the risk of possibly contracting COVID-19 from — or transmitting it to — our faraway loved ones, we want to do everything we can to protect our local friends and co-workers from the coronavirus,” Collins said. (Read more from “Holidays Under Threat as Pandemic Worsens” HERE)

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Holiday Hugs Under Fire From Girl Scouts

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Holidays may be a time for family members to hug each other, but when it comes to kids hugging relatives, the Girl Scouts of America are urging parents not to force the issue.

The Girl Scouts published a blog post this week stating that forcing children to hug relatives and family friends during the holidays could cause confusion about consent for those children later.

The blog came from the national office, but Amy Mountain, spokeswoman for the Harrisburg-based Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, said, “We’re always trying to help girls find their voice and determine what makes them comfortable. If someone decides doing a fist bump or high five makes them more comfortable, we suggest the family support the girl in that.”

“The main message is children should be given a choice if they want to give a hug,” said Susan Mathias, chief executive officer of Transitions, Lewisburg, which provides services to victims of sexual assault and other crimes. “It’s empowering for girls — and boys — to learn its OK to say no, they don’t want to give a hug or a kiss.”

If a relative, especially one the child barely knows, insists on hugging or kissing the child, “I think it’s appropriate for the parent to nicely intervene if it’s not comfortable for the child,” Mathias said. (Read more from “Holiday Hugs Under Fire From Girl Scouts” HERE)

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