Holiday travel and COVID-19

Was arrested on multiple charges.

We all want to see family and friends this time of year.

But... this year-- the c-d-c says to resist the urge..

And stay home.

This is the most effective way to keep you and your family safe during the pandemic.

News 10's dominic miranda spoke with the vigo county health department today he explains what they've learned since thanksgiving... and what it means heading into christmas, [take pkg duration:2:00] do} health officials have made it clear that the best way to keep yourself and others safe during the holidays... is to stay home and avoid large gatherings.

A lot of americans have ignored this advice.... health educator at the vigo county health department roni elder spoke to me about the results of this here in vigo county a week after thanksgiving.

"we are already, through contact tracing, finding out that people are exposing people through thanksgiving or some people are already starting to test from thanksgiving and getting positives."

As of thursday morning..

Elder says there are over 67 hundred confirmed cases of covid-19 in vigo county.

162 of those cases are new as of thursday.

This could be a result of back logged cases through the states testing lab.... which closed for the holiday weekend.

However... elder says throughout this week and next.... the numbers will give them a good idea of the impact that holiday travel has had.

"once we start to get those numbers in and we see how many we actually got from thanksgiving, i think that will be a huge factor going into christmas.

We're optimistic but we're also prepared for the worst with numbers."

If you still plan on traveling... the cdc is advising getting tested 1 to 3 days before you do and 3 to 5 days afterwards.

Elder says however.... the best thing you can do at christmas time.... is just stay home.

"at this time, it's the same as thanksgiving.

We don't really recommend you traveling or going around big holiday gatherings, but we'll see how the numbers do."

Elder says they are anticipating numbers to continue increasing in the next week from thanksgiving.

However, they are still waiting on a majority of them... as testing sites are very much strained with the increase around the holidays.

In terre haute i'm dominic miranda news 10 an inmate at the daviess