"A loaded pistol for Grandma's head": Polis describes risk of Thanksgiving gatherings, urging self-quarantining

'Start quarantining today,' instructed Governor Jared Polis to those wishing to spend Thanksgiving with family members in Colorado. Polis took to Facebook live on Friday afternoon to address the upcoming holiday, along with rising COVID-19 cases in Colorado and the state's response.

With 1 in 110 Coloradans contagious with COVID-19, the typical Thanksgiving setting is expected to be a risky one. There would be a 1 in 11 chance that someone contagious with COVID-19 would be present at a 10-person gathering, likely to spread the virus to others during the extended period of close proximity.

Polis described the Thanksgiving setting as "indoor, intimate contact around a table" where COVID-19 was highly likely to spread.

Polis compared risky COVID-19 behavior during the holidays to Russian roulette.

While referencing risk reduction by self-quarantining for the family dinner, Polis said, "It's not fun to play Russian roulette in one in a hundred chances the bullet is in the chamber, but it's a heck of a lot better than playing Russian roulette with the bullet in one in ten chambers."

This quote followed Polis describing the tricky situation where family members are divided on whether or not they quarantine. Polis stated that even if only some family members quarantine, the risk of COVID-19 being present is still lowered. He continued to encourage as many family members to self-quarantine as possible if they plan on gathering for the holiday.

Polis continued, "The more family members that make that decision to self-quarantine, the more likely it is that you're not bringing a loaded pistol for Grandma's head."

Polis urged those not self-quarantining to enjoy the holidays with those in their household, connecting with relatives and friends virtually.