'We just need folks to buckle it down': Doctor urges people not to gather in groups for Packers game

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Packers fans are gearing up for the big game on Sunday, but doctors recommend against gathering to watch the game. 

That's because the pandemic has changed the way fans can safely celebrate. 

"It’s really nice that the Packers have made it this far. It’d be really nice if it wasn’t in a year where there wasn’t a global pandemic and everything is different, but we're a little bit worried," said Dr. Jeff Pothof with UW-Health. "There's been really good news in Wisconsin, with the pandemic, numbers are down, hospitalizations are lower. We have this vaccine news, lots of people being eligible for the vaccine and that makes us start to think that this is over, like the pandemic is done and we can do these things that we really want to do. Unfortunately, we still have a lot of COVID in the state and we still need to be careful and take these measures." 

He says if we've learned anything over the past year, it's how the virus spreads. 

"Unfortunately, a Packers game day party with your friends is a really good way to spread the disease. Eating, drinking, it’s going to be indoors, it’s going to be frigid this weekend so we just really need to hold the line, we’re not quite there yet." 

He says people should treat it like they did with Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season. 

"You could probably call this a state holiday this coming weekend, so we just need folks to buckle it down and do the things they did over the holidays where they were able to have that human connection, rib their friends a little bit if they happen to be ya know, Tom Brady fans, but we have to do it virtually. We can’t do it close together."