LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (WKBW) — Nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers are planning on having a different Thanksgiving this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and few are traveling, according to a new poll from Siena College.
According to the poll, 41 percent of New Yorkers say that due to the virus, Thanksgiving will be very different this year, while an additional 23 percent say the holiday will be somewhat different.
Meanwhile, only 14 percent of New Yorkers say they plan on visiting family and friends for Thanksgiving this year.
“For most, Thanksgiving looks to be different this year," said Don Levy, Director of the Siena College Research Institute. "Fewer than half are planning to have uncles, aunts and cousins over and only one in seven plans to travel to family meals on what has historically been one of the top travel days of the year. And as so many of us have gotten used to connecting at work or with friends via online platforms, 40 percent of New Yorkers will include a Zoom song, toast or laugh with those loved ones that are usually around the same table.”
According to the research, 14 percent of New Yorkers say they will attend holiday parties during the rest of the holiday season while 19 percent of New Yorkers plan to host holiday gatherings this year.
Additionally, 64 percent of New Yorkers say that they are comfortable attending a small holiday party in a home that includes no more than ten people, but only ten percent of New Yorkers are comfortable attending a party at a friend’s home where over the course of the evening more than 50 people arrive.
About half of New Yorkers say they are comfortable attending an outdoor holiday event.
You can read the entire poll here.
