Intermountain Healthcare urges caution ahead of Thanksgiving gatherings

SALT LAKE CITY — With Thanksgiving gatherings on the calendar this week, doctors with Intermountain Healthcare are suggesting caution. 

During a virtual briefing Wednesday, Intermountain Healthcare Infectious Diseases Physician Dr. Brandon Webb said this Thanksgiving looks a lot like last year. 

“We’re actually in a near mirror image of where we were going into Thanksgiving last year, both in terms of our case counts and our hospitalization rates,” said Dr. Webb. 

Webb said hospital capacity and occupancy are at very high levels this week, a situation that is similar to a surge last winter. 

Different than last winter, however, is the presence of another respiratory illness.  

“High rates of RSV, the croup viruses…and we’re starting to see some influenza now,” Dr. Webb said. 

The healthcare network is encouraging people to get vaccinated or receive booster shots where available. They also recommend keeping family gatherings small for Thanksgiving, especially if there are unvaccinated people attending a gathering. 

Dr. Webb also recommends people avoid the get-together altogether if they are sick or experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms. 

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