Is It Time To Ban Large Gatherings Again Amid Covid Surge?

I am not going to lie. I am starting to get worried about the rise of coronavirus cases in the United States. We were warned of a winter surge due to both the weather and it being flu season. However, from what the reports are showing it seems as though we are back to April of 2020.

State officials are urging people to reconsider gathering for the holidays. With Christmas being this weekend and New Year's Eve a week and a half away, millions of people have plans to celebrate with their loved ones since they weren't able to last year. But considering the fact that New Jersey has the highest number of cases right now than it has in 8 months, is it time to scale back a little?

The dilemma I am having right now is that my immediate family are the only ones vaccinated amongst my mom's side of the family. There is a gathering planned this Sunday to celebrate Christmas. Over 20 people will be in attendance. Up until this point, we all thought it would be safe to be together for the holidays. The covid cases had decreased, and everyone has been practicing safety measures like wearing a mask still and social distancing. However, with the Omicron variant on the loose, it seems like every time I turn around someone I know is testing positive.

As someone who is immunocompromised, I am torn between seeing my family and protecting my health. This will be the last time I see my entire family for a very long time. However, I have Lupus which makes me more susceptible to being hospitalized if I catch Covid.

I think it's time state officials ban large gatherings for the holidays. I hate to say it but I can see things only getting worse come January 1.