ROCHESTER, N.Y. — With a week until Thanksgiving, whether by car or plane, some people are planning to travel.

Kim Rotoli is heading south next week to spend the holiday with close friends.

What You Need To Know

  • As COVID-19 cases climb in Monroe County, some people are rethinking their holiday plans

  • The county is creating 50 new temporary positions to assist with contact tracing

  • County leaders say choices people make will determine whether the area moves to an Orange Zone

"I bring my anti-bacterial lotion with me and wash my hands frequently on the plane. I wear my mask and I just feel very comfortable traveling," said Kim Rotoli of Webster.

Others are staying home. Sarah Auguglia is an essential healthcare worker. She said she had to rethink a traditional gathering this year because of the pandemic.

"I usually spend it with other family members or a bigger gathering, so it's gonna be different but I'm looking forward to it. I like small, I like a more intimate setting," said Sarah Auguglia of Greece.

For the past several weeks leading up to the holiday, Monroe County's top health leader has warned against large Thanksgiving Day gatherings, urging people to keep celebrations within households. Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza repeated that message during the weekly media briefing Thursday.

"We hold the future in our hands. Hospitals are becoming very full. Words of encouragement, your flowers, your pizza are very nice. But what we really want is for you to step up and do the right thing," said Mendoza.

With the increasing number of cases, the county is reassigning staff to expand its call center and created 50 new temporary positions to help with contact tracing.

"These new positions will assist with the Monroe County Department of Health staff with outreach to COVID positive individuals and other related activities as we care for and respond to residents here who are testing positive,” said (D) Monroe County Executive Adam Bello.

County leaders say although decisions can be difficult, it's those choices that could keep the community from moving to the orange zone where there are even more restrictions.

"I think that we can get, manage our way through yellow and get out of yellow but it's going to take everyone working together and doing what we proved earlier this year has worked," said Bello.