CBS Guest: Serve Food to Thanksgiving Guests in Garage While Awaiting Rapid Virus Tests

Paul BoisNovember 24, 2021

Adding to the litany of intense Thanksgiving suggestions in the age of coronavirus, a psychologist on CBS said that people should consider serving their guests “hor d’oeuvres in the garage” as they await results on rapid virus tests.

During a segment on CBS Mornings, psychologist Lisa Damour was asked how hosts should address people’s vaccination or non-vaccination status over Thanksgiving dinner.

“It might be a difficult conversation before people step into your house to say, ‘whoa, wait a minute, where’s your card, what’s your status?’ before you walk into my home,’” a host said.

“This is tough because people are all over the map on this,” responded Damour. “They’re also all over the map with their risk tolerance. But the rapid tests have made this a lot easier. Whatever people’s vaccination status is, we can actually confirm safety on the spot.”

“If the situation feels weird, maybe make it kind of fun,” she continued. “And say, ‘we’re going to start with hors d’oeuvres in the garage. You know, we’ll have drinks, we’ll do our rapid tests, and then come on in,’ right?” You can make it playful, make it fun, and then be able to enjoy the holiday because you’re not worried about safety.”

CBS segment on #Thanksgiving suggests families have drinks and “hors d’oeuvres in the garage” while everyone takes a Covid rapid test and wait for the results before going inside: “You can make it playful, make it fun, and then be able to enjoy the holiday.” pic.twitter.com/U6q0PLPC4E

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 24, 2021

Damour’s suggestion was just one other over-the-top suggestion in a string of over-the-top suggestions. Axios, for instance, recommended on Tuesday that homes should have “Thanksgiving bouncers” to sift through the non-compliers.

“No one really wants this job, but millions of households may need their own Thanksgiving bouncer. The cover charge is a negative COVID test, done ahead of arrival or outside the front door,” the article said. “Normalizing rapid tests is a practical way to help extended families feel a little more normal around the holiday dinner table.”

Axios suggested that hosts inform their guests ahead of their arrival that they will “be testing everyone at the door for their own safety.”

“Depending on your budget, you might offer to pick up the tab for everyone’s tests, or hosts might ask guests to pay for their own,” it said.

Last week, the New York Times quoted Virginia Tech engineering professor Dr. Linsey Marr who said that unvaccinated children should be forced to wear a mask and “eat quickly” and separately from the adults.

“As the kids will not be fully vaccinated until two weeks after their second shot, I think some care is warranted, especially because some attendees are 65 and older and thus at greater risk of more serious breakthrough infections,” said Marr. “You could have the kids wear masks, eat quickly and stay away from the older adults when eating.”