Phil murphy "mystified" over cdc guidance for thanksgiving dinner, here's why
Group of senior people celebrating Thanksgiving together at home over traditional dinner, praying and expressing gratitude before dinner

Phil Murphy “mystified” over CDC guidance for Thanksgiving dinner, here’s why

October 5, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC – The CDC went into near panic mode over the prospect of families gathering around a table and coming together for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Once again, the CDC recommended families host virtual Thanksgiving dinners. The agency also said to turn on fans and open the windows to blow away the airborne COVID-19 droplets. The agency advised against travel and gatherings, noting the highly transmissible Delta variant.

The agency also recommended moving your Thanksgiving Day dinner outdoors.

“Attending gatherings to celebrate events and holidays increases your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19. The safest way to celebrate is virtually, with people who live with you, or outside and at least 6 feet apart from others,” the CDC noted. “If celebrating indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible. You can use a window fan in one of the open windows to blow air out of the window. This will pull fresh air in through the other open windows.”

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who in recent history hasn’t met a COVID-19 restriction he didn’t like, didn’t like this one. When it comes to the CDC’s guidance, Murphy distanced himself just a month before his re-election.

“I had not seen what the CDC said about Thanksgiving, but as I sit here today, if you know, it’s your own family and you know the vaccination status of everybody, use your common sense,” Murphy said. “I’m a little bit mystified by that. I don’t see why if you don’t know everyone’s status, you can’t sit down and enjoy dinner together.”

“That’s not coming from me,” the Governor added.

On Tuesday, the CDC removed its Thanksgiving Holiday guidance, saying the agency is crafting new guidance.

Here’s what Dr. Fauci said about Christmas: Is Dr. Fauci going to cancel Christmas if you don’t get vaccinated? The Dr. says maybe and this: White House says if Fauci, CDC cancels Christmas gatherings it will abide

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital news organization covering New Jersey, national politics, public policy, public safety, and community affairs. With years of experience reporting on local government, elections, law enforcement, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey, Stilton has built a reputation for delivering timely news, in-depth reporting, and accountability journalism.

As the founder of Shore News Network, Stilton oversees editorial operations, investigative reporting, and breaking news coverage while working closely with journalists, public officials, and community leaders. His reporting has covered municipal government, state politics, federal policy, public records investigations, emergency management, and major news events affecting local communities.

Stilton is committed to factual reporting, source verification, transparency, and providing readers with accessible, accurate information that helps them better understand the issues shaping their communities. Through Shore News Network, he continues to focus on delivering trusted news coverage and original reporting to audiences across New Jersey and beyond.

For story tips, corrections, or media inquiries, readers can contact Shore News Network through its official website and social media channels.