GREEN BAY, Wis. — Tiffany Fellenz is used to celebrating Thanksgiving with family, friends, and lots of food, as many are.

But this year will be very different as the nation continues to battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The solid decision was just to lay low this year and very small, intimate, just our household members staying here close to home,” said the Green Bay woman.

She said she’ll likely spend this year with her significant other and his child. She’ll only spend time with other family virtually. She said a major reason for the change is several members of her family have contracted the virus already this year.

“They are on the mend and back to work and just thinking that it’s not worth it for especially my family being a little bit in their golden years shall we say,” Fellenz said.

Doctors throughout Wisconsin have spent weeks urging families to do what Fellenz is describing — limit Thanksgiving gatherings and stay home for dinner this year.

“Generally during the holidays here, we’re recommending that people don’t dine or interact with people who don’t live with them,” Dr. John Raymond, President and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin, said. “That’s tough for grandparents and relatives that want to get close to their families.”

Raymond says families should consider the rule of six, meaning enjoying Thanksgiving with no more than six people from no more than two households.

“It’s probably important for you to know how compliant are the people you’re interacting with being with these regulations,” he said.

Raymond said Wisconsin’s hospital systems continue to work near max capacity and deal with staff shortage as the pandemic continues to rage on.

Fellez said 2020 has been a year of sacrifice and she’s willing to do so again if it means she and her family will be safe.

“This is our new normal, and it’s weird, but we all have to do what we have to do and try to be safe,” she said.