COVID-19 forcing some travelers to alter Thanksgiving plans

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — In what’s typically the busiest journey day of the yr, RDU Airport felt a lot slower than in years previous. Nevertheless, some courageous vacationers determined to enterprise out and catch a flight.

Raleigh resident Allison Smith often stays on the town with household to have a good time however this yr is way totally different.

“We’re headed to Puerto Rico to get pleasure from a while away for Thanksgiving,” stated Smith. Smith and her daughter have been touring collectively Wednesday and can be assembly the dad and brother who’re already down there.

The Smiths have dad and mom who’re immunocompromised, thus making it tough and harmful to satisfy as a household.

“It is simply arduous to get along with everybody nervous about COVID,” Allison Smith stated. “So we determined as a household, we would jump over to Puerto Rico by ourselves for the primary time. As soon as we’re there, we’ll FaceTime for Thanksgiving Day.”

One mom and her two kids are skipping a standard Thanksgiving and as a substitute going to Walt Disney World.

Boston native Shandolyn Wilson usually goes residence for the vacations. Nevertheless, her husband underwent a kidney transplant, and so they determined earlier than the pandemic that they’d keep residence. COVID-19 strengthened their resolution.

“My husband has this expression on a regular basis,” Wilson stated, “I cannot permit it to defeat me, however I’ll defeat it. I simply knew one thing was going to alter. However we roll with the punches. We are saying wherever it leads, that is the place we’ll go. And we simply took it step-by-step and day-by-day.”

Wilson stated she’s going to miss her mom’s turkey, collard greens and different scrumptious sides. Often, she would look to her sister for her signature dish.

“My sister has a spin on macaroni and cheese. I’ll miss all of that,” Wilson stated. “However one factor I realized, I understand how to do it. I’ll miss their arms, however I am sensible. I understand how to place it collectively.”

Wilson instructed ABC11 that touring to Boston subsequent yr is a should.

“If we nonetheless must undergo the identical factor, so be it,” she stated. “However I am not going to let it cease me. 2021, I’m going again residence. I am going again to Boston to get my seafood, see my household; all that sort of stuff.”