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‘I want you to live.’ Hartford residents who lost family to COVID-19 urge caution this Thanksgiving as cases, deaths increase

HARTFORD — For Chinequia Bailey and Hiram Otero Jr., the Thanksgiving holiday will not be the same this year. Like thousands of other Connecticut families who lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic, a seat at the table will be empty.

Bailey and Otero, joined by Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, asked residents to keep gatherings small to limit the spread of the virus that killed Bailey’s mother and Otero’s father.

“As much as we want to gather and be with family during this holiday season ... keep it to a minimum,” said Otero, an officer with the Hartford police.