Zoom officials announced this month that they are lifting the 40-minute limit for video calls on the company’s free plan on Thanksgiving Day to allow users to connect with friends and family members amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The 40-minute limit on Zoom Basic plans will be lifted beginning at 12 a.m. ET on Nov. 26, and last through 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 27, officials said.
As a thank you to our customers, we will be lifting the 40-minute limit for all meetings globally from midnight ET on Nov. 26 through 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 27 so your family gatherings don't get cut short. ❤️🏡 #ZoomTogether pic.twitter.com/aubsH0tfxG
— Zoom (@zoom_us) November 10, 2020
Health officials are encouraging people to stay home and celebrate the upcoming holiday virtually as reports of COVID-19 cases spike nationwide. In its holiday guidelines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that celebrating the holidays virtually “poses the lowest risk for spread” of COVID-19.
>> Related: Coronavirus: CDC issues updated guidelines for small gatherings ahead of Thanksgiving
The U.S. continues to lead the world with the most reported coronavirus infections and the highest number of deaths. As of Monday, more than 11 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported nationwide, resulting in over 246,000 deaths, according to a count from Johns Hopkins University.
The 7-day average of Coronavirus cases has gone from 34,200 per day on September 12 to over 147,000 per day on Nov 15 - more than a 4x increase in two months.
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) November 16, 2020
19 states set records this weekend for hospitalizations. More cases --> More COVID patients --> More virus deaths. pic.twitter.com/KCGkmkBgoW
More than 54.5 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported globally, resulting in over 1.3 million deaths.
Cox Media Group
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