The US could see “surge upon surge” of coronavirus cases as people return home from the Thanksgiving holiday, a top US disease expert has warned.
Speaking on Sunday, Dr Anthony Fauci said it was “not too late” for those yet to travel to help curb the virus by wearing masks and socially distancing.
Thanksgiving typically heralds the busiest week for travel in the US.
The US has recorded more than 13 million coronavirus cases and more than 266, 000 people have died.
As of Sunday, an estimated 26 million people passed through US airports in the week surrounding the holiday.
Health experts had called for people to spend Thanksgiving at home, but this week US airports marked their busiest period since mid-March.
According to Transport Security Administration statistics, anywhere from 800, 000 to more than one million travellers passed through US airport checkpoints on any day during the past week.
“There is almost certainly going to be an uptick because of what has happened with the travel,” said Dr Fauci.
In a television appearance, Dr Fauci recommended Thanksgiving travellers to quarantine for a period of time “if it’s possible”.
