Survey of Adherence with COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors During the 2020 Thanksgiving and Winter Holidays Among Members of the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership
Authors: Peacock James E. , Herrington David M. , Edelstein Sharon L. , Seals Austin L. , Plumb Ian D. , Saydah Sharon , Lagarde William H. , Runyon Michael S. , Maguire Patrick D. , Correa Adolfo , Weintraub William S. , Wierzba Thomas F. , Sanders John W. ,   for The COVID-19 Community Research Partnership Study Group, Walton John , Espeland Mark A. , Mongraw-Chaffin Morgana , Bertoni Alain , Alexander-Miller Martha A. , Mathews Allison , Munawar Iqra , Ostasiewski Brian , Ballard Christine Ann Pittman , Gurcan Metin , Ivanov Alexander , Matthews Allison , Zapata Giselle Melendez , Westcott Marlena , Blinson Karen , Blinson Laura , McGlasson Douglas , Mistysyn Mark , Davis Donna , Doomy Lynda , Henderson Perrin , Jessup Alicia , Lane Kimberly , Levine Beverly , McCanless Jessica , McDaniel Sharon , Melius Kathryn , O’Neill Christine , Pack Angelina , Rathee Ritu , Rushing Scott , Sheets Jennifer , Soots Sandra , Wall Michele , Wheeler Samantha , White John , Wilkerson Lisa , Wilson Rebekah , Wilson Kenneth , Burcombe Deb , McCurdy Lewis H. , Gibbs Michael A. , Taylor Yhenneko J. , Calamari Lydia , Tapp Hazel , Ahmed Amina , Brennan Michael , Munn Lindsay , Dantuluri Keerti L. , Hetherington Timothy , Lu Lauren C. , Dunn Connell , Hogg Melanie , Price Andrea , Leonidas Mariana , Staton Laura , Spencer Kennisha , Manning Melinda , Rossman Whitney , Gohs Frank , Harris Anna , Gutnik Bella , Priem Jennifer S. , Burns Ryan , Miller Kristen , Washington Chris , Moses Allison , Dolman Sarahfaye , Zelaya-Portillo Julissa , Erkus John , Blumenthal Joseph , Barrientos Ronald E. Romero , Bennett Sonita , Shah Shrenik , Mathur Shrey , Boxley Christian , Kolm Paul , Long La , Zhang Cheng , Hochberger Eva , Franklin Ella , Wesley Deliya , Ahmed Naheed , Oberhelman Richard , Keating Joseph , Kissinger Patricia , Schieffelin John , Yukich Joshua , Beron Andrew J. , Hayes Devin , Teigen Johanna , Kotloff Karen , Chen Wilbur , Friedman-Klabanoff DeAnna , Berry Andrea , Powell Helen , Roane Lynnee , Datar Reva , Mena Leandro , Navalkele Bhagyashri , Min Yuan I. , Castillo Alexandra , Ward Lori , Santos Robert P. , Gomillia Courtney , Anugu Pramod , Gao Yan , Green Jason , Sandlin Ramona , Moore Donald , Drake Lemichal , Horton Dorothy , Daniel LaMonica , Hanlon Charin L. , McFayden Lynette , Rigo Isaura , Hines Kelli , Smith Lindsay , Drilling Alexa , Harris Monique , Lissor Belinda , Cook Vivian , Eversole Maddy , Herrin Terry , Murphy Dennis , Kinney Lauren , Diehl Polly , Abromitis Nicholas , Pierre Tina St. , Kennedy Judy , Kinney Lauren , Heckman Bill , Evans Denise , Cook Vivian , Eversole Maddy , March Julian , Whitlock Ben , Moore Wendy , Henderson Shakira , Gallaher Thomas R. , Zimmer Michael , Oliver Danielle , Dixon Tina , Jackson Kasheta , Reavis Martha , Menon Monica , Bishop Brandon , Roeth Rachel , Johanson Mathew , Ceaser Alesia , Fernandez Amada , Williams Carmen , Hargett Jeremiah , Boyd Keeaira , Forbes Kevonna , Thomas Latasha , Jenkins Markee , Coward Monica , Clark Derrick , Frost Omeshia , Darden Angela , Askew Lakeya , Phipps Sarah , Barnes Victoria , King-Thiele Robin , Hamrick Terri S. , Ihmeidan Abdalla , Okafor Chika , Brown Regina B. Bray , Vinod Poornima , Klima Lawrence , Brewster Amber , Bouyi Danius , Lamont Katrina , Yoshinaga Kazumi , Peela A. Suman , Denbel Giera , Lo Jason , Mayet-Khan Mariam , Mittal Akash , Motwani Reena , Raafat Mohamed , Schultz Evan , Joseph Aderson , Parkeh Aalok , Patel Dhara , Afridi Babar , Uschner Diane , Santacatterina Michele , Strylewicz Greg , Burke Brian , Gunaratne Mihili , Turney Meghan , Zhou Qin , Laborde Rebecca , McKeague Anne , Tran Grace , Ward Johnathan , Dieterly Joyce , Darko Nana , Castellon Kimberly , Malcolm Isabella , Brink Ryan , Goodwin Atira , Berkelman Ruth , Hanson Kimberly , Zeger Scott , Hopkins Johns , Reilly Cavan , Edwards Kathy , Gayle Helene 
Published: August 2021

Prevention behaviors represent important public health tools to limit spread of SARS-CoV-2. Adherence with recommended public health prevention behaviors among 20000 + members of a COVID-19 syndromic surveillance cohort from the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States was assessed via electronic survey following the 2020 Thanksgiving and winter holiday (WH) seasons. Respondents were predominantly non-Hispanic Whites (90%), female (60%), and ≥ 50 years old (59%). Non-household members (NHM) were present at 47.1% of Thanksgiving gatherings and 69.3% of WH gatherings. Women were more likely than men to gather with NHM (p < 0.0001). Attending gatherings with NHM decreased with older age (Thanksgiving: 60.0% of participants aged < 30 years to 36.3% aged ≥ 70 years [p-trend < 0.0001]; WH: 81.6% of those < 30 years to 61.0% of those ≥ 70 years [p-trend < 0.0001]). Non-Hispanic Whites were more likely to gather with NHM than were Hispanics or non-Hispanic Blacks (p < 0.0001). Mask wearing, reported by 37.3% at Thanksgiving and 41.9% during the WH, was more common among older participants, non-Hispanic Blacks, and Hispanics when gatherings included NHM. In this survey, most people did not fully adhere to recommended public health safety behaviors when attending holiday gatherings. It remains unknown to what extent failure to observe these recommendations may have contributed to the COVID-19 surges observed following Thanksgiving and the winter holidays in the United States.