What are you doing for Thanksgiving dinner this weekend?
Survey shows people plan to avoid Halloween festivities as well
Talking turkey and trick-ortreating will not be the same this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new poll suggests.
The Campaign Research survey for the Star found most Ontarians favour small Thanksgiving gatherings this weekend and oppose the customary Halloween festivities on Oct. 31.
One third of those polled — 33 per cent — said only the people residing in a single household should celebrate Thanksgiving together. Almost half — 48 per cent — said fewer than10 people should gather for the traditional turkey dinner.
Ten per cent said Ontarians should be allowed to do whatever they want on the annual holiday while six per cent said between 10 and 25 people should be permitted to get together under one roof and three per cent had no opinion.
“There is a lot of noise out there, but the research suggests people are accepting what they have to do and accepting their own personal responsibility,” Campaign Research principal Nick Kouvalis said Sunday.
Campaign Research polled 1,017 people across Ontario last Wednesday through Friday using Maru/Blue’s online panel. It is an opt-in poll, but for comparison purposes, a random sample of this size would have a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The firm found 60 per cent were opposed to letting children canvas for candy on Halloween due to the risks of COVID-19. Only 33 per cent favoured pandemic trick-ortreating and eight per cent had no opinion.
While Premier Doug Ford recommended small gatherings for Thanksgiving and has warned a customary Halloween may not be possible, the
Ontario government is not restricting the two celebrations. “Really, what it comes down to is … use your best judgment. I’ve got a lot of calls, ‘Should I go see my 80-year-old mother for Thanksgiving?’ You have to use common sense, and that really comes down to your family members,” Ford said Monday.
At city hall, Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, went further. “Please limit your Thanksgiving dinner to the people you live with. If you live alone, your safest option is to join with others virtually,” she said.
Campaign Research asked what is closer to Ontarians’ view today, with 39 per cent saying the province should remain in Stage 3 and 42 per cent wanting a more restrictive Stage 2 with restaurants, bars, gyms, banquet halls and schools closed for all indoor activity.