A majority of Americans say they plan to attend some type of Thanksgiving gathering this year even if it involves a smaller group than normal or other precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic, a new Hill-HarrisX poll finds.
Fifty-seven percent of registered voters surveyed in the poll indicated they plan to attend a gathering for Thanksgiving, though only a small minority indicated they would gather with family and friends as normal. A large number of respondents said they don’t expect to meet with people outside their household at all.
Among those who said they would attend a gathering, 23 percent said they would meet with family and friends “as normal,” 22 percent said they plan to gather with a smaller group of people than usual and 12 percent said they would gather with family or friends while taking safety precautions.
A plurality of respondents, 44 percent, said they don’t intend to see anyone outside their own household.
The Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that people avoid traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, though has said that those who do gather should take several precautions, such as wearing masks, staying six feet apart and holding gatherings outside.
The CDC issued its guidance last week amid the latest surge in COVID-19 cases heading into the colder months.
The Hill-HarrisX poll was conducted online Nov. 17-19 among 1,873 registered voters. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.26 percentage points.
—Gabriela Schulte
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