This Thanksgiving, public health officials are grateful that they are not seeing the same levels of COVID related hospitalizations and fatalities that the 2021 holiday season brought.

However, all San Luis Valley counties are currently at COVID-19 Community Level Medium and several other respiratory illnesses are making the rounds as well.

If you are sick, you can protect your loved ones by skipping Thanksgiving gatherings; ask them to make you a plate instead. If you are well, wash your hands frequently and use safe food handling practices while preparing your holiday feast.

For more food safety tips, see cdc.gov/foodsafety/prevention/food-safety-seasons-holidays