Pennsylvania's health secretary says its time people start to plan for scaled down Thanksgiving celebrations this year as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Dr. Rachel Levine says the third wave of COVID infections poses a danger to families and friends planning to gather for Thanksgiving.
"Unfortunately, in this time of the global pandemic of COVID-19 as we approach the holidays, we need to rethink those gatherings, we need to think about more and more gatherings being virtual."
She says the safest would be to limit celebrations to those already living together.
"I think that it's a sacrifice, but I think that that sacrifice can mean that people don't get sick in your family and in your community and it would be worth it."
Levine also took issue with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows who said Sunday, we can't control the virus. She says the virus can be controlled with containment, mitigation and therapeutics.
"Despite what has been reported in the last day or so, we can control COVID-19," Levine said.
Herd immunity is not a viable option according to the health secretary. "We cannot rely upon any strategy that depends upon herd immunity. Really, all public health officials - local officials, state officials and federal officials do not agree with that strategy. That means basically letting it burn and that is not a good public health strategy."
Meadows said administration efforts will focus on therapeutics and a vaccine.