While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Thanksgiving gatherings could be off the table this year because of a looming second wave of COVID-19, B.C.’s top doctor has a slightly different take.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says the October 12 holiday can go ahead but with precautions.

“There is no reason at all why you can’t have Thanksgiving with your household bubble, your close, small number of people,” she said.

“It is a challenge, and we would not be recommending either that you have a large family gathering where particularly elders and seniors come from other places and get together with people who have had other types of contacts.”

For people still hoping to gather with their extended families, Henry says the virtual option is the way to go this year.

“This virus travels with us and when we move, we bring that risk with us. So now is our time to start regrouping and pulling back doing the things that led us to be in this position. So it is not a time to be complacent, and if we are complacent, that is when we put our communities at risk.”

Earlier this month, Henry also said that people will still be able to trick or treat this Halloween, but she noted it will look a lot different than years past.

“You know the large family gatherings, we’ve been saying that through the summer as well. This is not the year for that,” Henry added. “This is the year to participate remotely with your family, with people you are closest to, to make sure that you can find ways to engage in these important celebrations together without putting anybody at risk.”

As it stands, B.C. has had 8,543 cases of COVID-19 so far, with 1,371 active cases – 34 of which are in the Interior Health Authority.