To prevent germs, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before, during, and after eating and preparing food. 
It is also important to wash your utensils, cutting boards, and countertops with hot, soapy water. You should also rinse your fruits and vegatables.

Cross-contamination is also dangerous. Seperate raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs from ready-to-eat foods. When in the refrigerator, raw meat, poulty, seafood, and eggs should be seperated from other items. When grocery shopping, they should also be seperated from your other items.

Make sure you are cooking your foods to the right temperature and use a food thermometer to check. 

• 145°F for whole cuts of beef, pork, veal, and lamb (then allow the meat to rest for 3 minutes before carving or eating)
• 160°F for ground meats, such as beef and pork
• 165°F for all poultry, including ground chicken and turkey
• 165°F for leftovers and casseroles
• 145°F for fresh ham (raw)
• 145°F for fin fish or cook until flesh is opaque

Food storage is also very important. Make sure to refridgerate your foods properly. Keep your refridgerator at 40°F or below and be sure to throw away expired foods. Refridgerate perishable foods within 2 hours (1 hour if outdoor temperature is 90°F or higher). Make sure to properly thaw foods.

For more information on food safety, click on the link below.
​https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/keep-food-safe.html

As of November 13, 2020, there have been 52,723 positive cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia.
For continued updates, click the link below:
​https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/testing-and-data/#/

As of November 13, 2020, there have been 248,856 cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, since January 21, 2020. There have been 28, 290 cases in the last 7 days.
For continued updates, click on the link below:
​https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_totalcases

Take the typical COVID-19 precautions, such as wearing a mask (covering your nose and mouth), staying at least six feet apart from others, and washing and sanitizing your hands frequently.

If you are attending a gathering, you should also consider bringing your own food, drinks, cups, plates, and utensils. Try to avoid going in and out of the kitchen or other areas where food is being handled and/or prepared. It is better to use items such as disposable utensils that are only used once.

If you are hosting a gathering, encourage your guests to follow COVID-19 precautions. It is recommended to limit the number of guests. You should also clean and disinfect items, and areas, and surfaces that are frequently used. Consider having guests bring their own food. Use disposable plates and utensils.

Also consider having a virtual Thanksgiving celebration to avoid physical contact.
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Traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic is not recommended. However, if you do choose to travel, be sure to take precautions. Before traveling, check travel restrictions. It is also recommended to get your flu shot. Also take the normal COVID-19 precautions, such as hand washing, wearing a mask, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. It is also wise to bring extra supplies, such as extra masks and extra hand sanitizer.

If you are planning to shop for Thanksgiving, it is recommended to shop online as opposed to in-store shopping. If you do shop in a store, make sure to follow the proper COVID-19 protocols and stay at least six away from others.

For more information on Thanksgiving during COVID-19, click on the link below.

​https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/thanksgiving.html

The flu is a contagious repiratory illness that is caused influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Flu symptoms can be mild or severe, and sometimes fatal.
Those at high risk of getting the flu include people over the age of 65, pregnant women, children under the age of 5, anyone with chronic medial conditions such as ashtma, diabetes, or heart disease. 
The best way to prevent getting the flu is to take flu vaccines every year.
Flu symptoms include:

• fever
• cough
• sore throat
• runny/stuffy nose
• muscle or body aches
• headaches
• fatigue
• vomitting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

Note that not everyone with the flu will have a fever


Click the link below for more information about Influenza:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm

Even with the COVID-19 pandemic going on, it is still recommended for anyone over the age of six months to get their flu vaccine. However, someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should not take the flu vaccine until they have been cleared to discontinue their isolation. 

The link below has more information and answers to frequently asked questions regarding the flu season and its relationship with COVID-19.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2020-2021.htm