The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging people to avoid traveling for Thanksgiving this year as COVID-19 cases surge across the country.

Dr. Mona Gahunia, an infectious diseases doctor at Kaiser Permanente, acknowledged that people may want to see loved ones they haven’t seen in a while. But she said the pandemic may be getting worse. Maryland reached its highest count for new COVID-19 cases Thursday.

“If we don't find our resilience right now, and take some simple measures to protect ourselves and others, our family and loved ones, our friends and community, things can get worse than they are today,” Gahunia said on WYPR’s podcast The Daily Dose.

She said people should be flexible about rearranging their plans now so that they can stay safe, and that the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is virtually.

“There's really fun things and good ways to celebrate virtually,” she said. “You just have to get a little more creative.”

Gahunia said you should only gather indoors with the people you live with. If you must gather with others, she said you should do it outdoors.