Thread by @nytimes

Our analysis of Thanksgiving travel shows that many Americans stayed home and limited family gatherings — possibly avoiding a worst-case scenario for coronavirus outbreaks.

But regional and isolated outbreaks still hit many who gathered. nyti.ms/37CeUGD

In 93% of U.S. counties, people had fewer contacts this Thanksgiving than they did during the holiday last year.

But in parts of Texas and California, for example, recent surges in coronavirus cases have been attributed to activity during the holiday. nyti.ms/37CeUGD

Epidemiologists in communities in and near Los Angeles are linking current surges to families who held small gatherings during Thanksgiving.

Covid-19 hospitalizations there spiked 156% in the three weeks after the holiday. In the prior three weeks, they increased by 108%.

There were regional differences in how much contact people in the U.S. had compared with last year, according to data from Cuebiq, a data intelligence firm.

The Northeast had the largest reduction in contacts; the South had the smallest. nyti.ms/37CeUGD

Americans, though, largely followed warnings from health officials and appeared to limit the size of gatherings and travel less.

But experts fear that those who were cautious during Thanksgiving might not do the same in the coming weeks. nyti.ms/37CeUGD

The upcoming holiday season could present more risk than Thanksgiving: It is longer, often with larger gatherings and multiple get-togethers.

“I really worry about stacking more cases on top of what we already have,” one physician said.

See more here: nyti.ms/37CeUGD