COVID + Thanksgiving: What to Know and Do Before the Holiday

COVID-19 is on the rise in Oklahoma, just as the holiday gathering season is upon us. We asked OU Chief COVID Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler his take on what the OU community should consider before Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season.

What is the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year?

Because household contacts are a common source of infection, it is prudent to limit family gatherings at this time and avoid having any in-home events that could put you or your loved ones at risk of the infection.

If you do have a gathering, take the personal responsibility to protect yourself and the people around you by considering the following:

Wear a mask as much as possible around people who don’t live in your household.
Limit the number of guests to allow people to maintain physical distancing at all times.
Hold gatherings outdoors, if possible.
Wash your hands frequently.
Stay home if you feel sick.

What other considerations should we keep in mind this holiday season?

While COVID-19 is commonly transmitted in the home, other places where the virus is easily spread include bars, gyms, restaurants, places of worship and any setting that you have groups of people in an indoor setting and not wearing masks. Contemplate hosting virtual gatherings with friends and family.

For holiday shopping, consider online shopping, contactless services for purchased items (like curbside pick-up) or shopping in open-air markets at a safe distance from others.

Should students get tested for COVID-19 before traveling home for the holidays?

We are encouraging students on the Norman campus to seek a free COVID test before they go home. Young people infected with COVID-19 are often asymptomatic, but could transmit the infection to their parents, grandparents, siblings and others. If a student tests positive, they need to be in isolation and not directly interact with their family members for at least 10 days after a positive test.

Norman Campus

OU students on the Norman campus can schedule a free COVID-19 test here:

Goddard Health Services – Any OU student, faculty or staff member may schedule a COVID-19 test at Goddard Health Services (620 Elm Ave., Norman). Testing is available Monday through Friday during regular business hours through the end of the fall semester. To schedule an appointment, call (405) 325-4441.

Students (and employees) are to complete the Online COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool in the event of a positive test, suspected exposure, experiencing symptoms, etc. For a list of all circumstances in which completing the tool is appropriate, click here.

Health Sciences Center Campus

HSC students who do not have COVID-19 symptoms and have not had close contact (been within 6 feet, for approximately 15 minutes or more) with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days or with someone who has been tested for COVID-19 and whose results are pending in the last 14, are welcome to receive a COVID-19 test at the Health Department test site at OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center by scheduling an appointment.
- To schedule an appointment, call (405) 271-7774
- Testing is available Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and Saturday/Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- The HHDC test site is located at 701 NE 8th St., Oklahoma City
- Please keep in mind that HSC students (and employees) who receive a positive test at this or any other location must report that result through the Online COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool.
HSC students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or who have been recently exposed as described above, must complete the Online COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool. The clinical team will contact you to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 test at the Ambulatory Surgery Center on the HSC campus.
- Please note: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, testing will not be available at the Ambulatory Surgery Center on Thursday, Nov. 26, or Friday, Nov. 27.
Testing for students in either of the above circumstances is provided at no charge. Appointments are required, and both testing locations usually provide results to the student within 24-30 hours.

OU-Tulsa Campus

OU-Tulsa students who do not have COVID-19 symptoms and have not had close contact (been within 6 feet, for approximately 15 minutes or more) with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days or with someone who has been tested for COVID-19 and whose results are pending in the last 14 days, are welcome to receive a COVID-19 test through the Health Department at the OU Tisdale Clinic by scheduling an appointment.
- OU Tisdale Clinic | 591 E. 36th Street North, Tulsa | To schedule an appointment, call (918) 619-4980 | Testing is performed on Mondays and Thursdays
  - Please note: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, testing will not be available at the OU Tisdale Clinic on Thursday, Nov. 26.
- Other Health Department testing sites:
  - North Regional Health and Wellness Center | 5635 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tulsa
  - South Testing Location | 8414 E. 101st St. South, Tulsa
- Please keep in mind that OU-Tulsa students (and employees) who receive a positive test at this or any other location must report that result through the Online COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool.
OU-Tulsa students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or who have been recently exposed as described above, must complete the Online COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool. The clinical team will contact you to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 test at OU Physicians Family Medicine Clinic in Tulsa.
- Please note: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, testing will not be available at the Family Medicine Clinic on Thursday, Nov. 26, or Friday, Nov. 27, but will resume the following Monday.
Testing for OU-Tulsa students in either of the above circumstances is provided at no charge. Both locations require appointments. Results from tests obtained at Family Medicine are usually back in 24 hours, and students will be notified of the results by Student Health. Results from tests obtained at the Health Department are usually back in 36 to 72 hours, and students will be notified of the results by the Health Department.

Article Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Return to Inside OU