CDC asks public not to travel for Thanksgiving

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said Thursday that people should not travel for Thanksgiving, citing fears that holiday celebrations could further spread the coronavirus amid a sharp rise in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

"More than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days," the CDC wrote in a statement issued Thursday. "As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with."

Last week, AAA predicted 50 million people in the U.S. will travel for the holiday, which is down 10% from 2019, making it the largest one-year decrease since the Great Recession in 2008. The CDC warning could shelve travelers plans to leave home and force some to celebrate virtually.