ERIKA: MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO GATHERING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY TOMORROW. BUT, WITH COVID CASES SURGING HERE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CONCERNS ARE STARTING TO GROW. BEN: JOINI UNGS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IS DR. DANIEL KURITZKES, CHIEF OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’S HOSPALIT MOST OF US WE’RE HOPING FOR CLOSE TO NORL THANKSGIVING. OUR NUMBERS ARE UP. CAN WE STILL HAVE A NORMAL THANKSGIVING AND WILL ITE B A NORMAL HOLIDAY SEASON? >> WELL, I THINK IT WILL BE CLOSER TO NORMAL THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR. I DON’T THINK IT WILL BEEAY R NORMAL, UNFORTUNATELY. I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT IT. EXACTLY WHOM THEY ARE GAERTHING WITH. WHETHER THEY ARE FAMILY MEMBERS OR ALL VACCINATED OR NOT OR WHETHER ANYBODY IS FEELING ILL OR SYMPTOMMINGS OF — SYMPTOMS OF COLD OR FLU OR ANYONE HAS TESTED POSITIVE. IN WHICH CASE TYHE SHOULD ISOLATE. ERIKA: ON THAT SAME LINEF O THINKING. SHOULD WE BE THINKING ABOUT GETTING POST-THANKSGIVING COVID TESTS AS PART OF THOSE EFFORTS? >> I DON’T THINK PEOEPL NEED TO TEST AFTER THANKSGIVING JUST AS A MATTER OF ROUTINE. REMEMBER THAT HOME TEST THAT YOU CAN DO ARE NOT PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE IF YOU DON’T HAVE SYMPTOMS. CERTAINLY, IT TURNS OUT THAT YOU LEARNED SOMEBODY AT YOUR THANKSGIVING GATHERING WAS INFECTED, YOU SHOULD GO PAIN GET TESTED AND KPEE YOURSELF IN QUARANTINE UNTIL YOU FIND OUT THE RESULTS OF YROU TEST. BEN: WE REPORTED YESTERDAY THAT ABOUT 28% OF ADULTS IN MASSACHUSETTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A BOOSTER HAVE GOTTEN THEM. WHAT DO WKNOWE ABOUT THE KIND OF PROTECTION THOSE ADDITIONAL SHOTS WILL PROVIDE, ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD INTO THE WINTER NTMOHS? HOW IMPORTANT A WEAPON WILL THAT ?BE >> BOOSTING IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR INCREASINGHE T LEVELF O PROTECTION AGAINST COVID FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE. FOR PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL NDCOITIONS. ANYBODY WHO GOT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE REALLY SHOULD GET A SECOND SHOT. IT’S MUCH BETTER VACCINE AS A TWOHO ST VACNECI THAN ONE SHOT VACCINE. FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE PREEXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION ATTH MAKE THEM MORE RISK FOR SEVERE INFECTIONS. IT’S LIKELY THEY WLIL NEED A THIRD BOOSTER SHOT. THEY NEED IT IMMEDIATELY OR CAN WAIT LITTLE WHILE. IT’S STILL BIT UP IN THE AIR. BOOSTERS CERTAINLY HELP IMPROVE PEOP’SLE PROTECTION AGAINST COVID. BEN: DR. DANIE KLURITZKES, WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY. THAN

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Video: Can we still have a more normal Thanksgiving? Boston doctor weighs in

Updated: 6:07 PM EST Nov 24, 2021

With COVID-19 cases surging in Massachusetts and across the country, concerns about holiday gatherings are growing.

BOSTON —

With COVID-19 cases surging in Massachusetts and across the country, concerns about holiday gatherings are growing.

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