INDIANAPOLIS — With Thanksgiving just days away, you may be planning on seeing family or getting together with friends, but doctors in our area want you to think twice before doing so. They say pandemic fatigue can lead to an even greater increase in COVID-19 cases.
“I think there is this sense of tiredness and apathy almost,” said Dr. Ram Yeleti, Chief Physician Executive at Community Health Network. “It does get tiring because you just keep on hearing about this and you're wondering when it's going to end,” he said about pandemic fatigue.
He and other health leaders in our area are encouraging people to continue taking precautions when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“In the month of November we're going to have more deaths than we did in the entire pandemic.” He said it is important to evaluate your risk and if you do choose to host or attend a gathering keep it small, eat outside, open windows while inside to promote airflow and wear your mask as much as possible.
Those who are high risk for COVID-19 complications are encouraged to avoid gatherings all together. He’s expecting a spike in positive cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
“Not only am I nervous, we are planning for it. I would guarantee within the 14-days after Thanksgiving there is definitely going to be a spike. It's just inevitable.”
He has this message for the community, “I know you're really tired of it, but just for the sake of your own loved ones, not for yourselves, try to manage a careful Thanksgiving so you can have more Thanksgivings together. It is a hard message, but if you can get through this year it will definitely get better and there is hope at the end of the tunnel.”
