The Baker Administration says Massachusetts families should refrain from singing and dancing on Thanksgiving.

Not only that, Governor Charlie Baker says any Thanksgiving dinner guests should bring their own food if they are considering breaking bread with you for the holiday. And don't forget to wear a mask between bites.

Secretary of Health and Human Service Marylou Sudders told a news conference this week, "There's just no way around it, the holidays need to look and feel very different this year." Sudders suggested you make food for family and neighbors and drop it off for them, but that if you insist on having dinner guests at your home you should avoid hugging, shaking hands, singing, dancing, shouting, or sharing food.

What? No shouting at Thanksgiving dinner? That's un-American!

The Department of Public Health has compiled a list of recommendations for you to consider if you are planning a family dinner for Thanksgiving. The DPH says seat people six feet apart and not at one large table. You should also limit trips outside the home, 14 days prior and 14 days after the gathering, according to the DPH. Baker said the gathering should be kept "to your limited social network, those that you've seen on a pretty regular basis."

The department says you should not gather in-person with older adults. In other words, Granny and Grandpa should be excluded from your feast. Is this part of Joe Biden's "dark winter" campaign?

New cases of COVID-19 are being reported all over the country. Got it. That is because more testing is being done. More tests, more positive cases. The survival rate is near 100 percent for almost all age groups except for those folks with pre-existing conditions. While case totals are higher, the number of deaths continues to decline, as do hospitalizations.

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell tells me we are averaging about one death per week due to COVID. There are currently about 10 COVID patients hospitalized in New Bedford. Ten. That's a small percentage of the available beds.

These people are nuts! How dare they intrude upon our private holiday celebrations? We are grown-ups who can make decisions about our family holiday observances without their guidance and advice. Mind your own business.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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