Baker: Residents 'should enjoy their Thanksgiving,' even as cases in Mass. tick upward

Massachusetts families "should enjoy their Thanksgiving" with confidence even as COVID-19 cases tick upward, Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday.

Baker, who toured small businesses in Needham to promote an initiative urging residents to shop at local retailers this holiday season, noted that more than 5 million Bay Staters have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Here are our charts and map tracking COVID vaccination and case trends in the state.)

Families concerned about the virus could purchase rapid tests to give themselves an added layer of security, Baker added.

"It's still a big opportunity for us to get back to what I would describe as something that will feel more like a traditional holiday," Baker said.

Some health experts have expressed cautious optimism around residents' gatherings ahead of this holiday season, echoing Baker's remarks about how vaccination rates alter the picture of potential surges for the better this year.

With additional reporting from the WBUR Newsroom