As Covid-19 cases increase nationwide after a three-week long plateau, doctors are warning people to be cautious and to keep their homes clean. Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving next week with family and friends.

According to CNBC’s analysis of Johns Hopkins University data, the U.S. saw a 7-day average of almost 95,000 Covid infection cases. This is 31% more than in the previous two weeks. Over the course of weeks, the number of Covid infections in America declined before returning to 70,000-75,000 per day by late October. That’s more than half off the high during the summer delta surge.

With the holiday season fast approaching, and more people deciding to spend their time indoors this winter due to the cold, officials from public health are trying to reduce another Covid spike. The country experienced its worst ever Covid spike last Christmas, with more than 250,000 cases per day in January 11. The virus caused death at an epidemic rate of 3,400 each day by early 2021.

CNBC has Dr. Bruce Farber of Northwell Health, New York’s chief infectious disease officer, describing how the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Fall season combine to create “the perfect storm” in Covid.

Specialists in infectious disease widely agreeAs long as all are immunized against Covid, it is safe for friends and families to enjoy the holiday season. But a new studyThe Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center discovered that 50% of those surveyed wouldn’t want to know the status of their guests’ vaccinations. Some 54% also said that they would not request that non-vaccinated partygoers be tested negative for the virus.

Farber declared, “I wouldn’t let anybody go to Thanksgiving if they weren’t vaccinated.” “That should be your price.”

Farber advised all fully vaccinated persons to have their booster shots during the holiday season because the Covid vaccines’ effectiveness has been decreasing over the years. On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration approved Pfizer and Moderna booster shots for adults living in the United States.

According to Dr. Reynold Pasnettieri, Rutgers University vice chancellor of translational medicine, and science, individuals who have been vaccinated at the beginning stages are more susceptible to developing breakthrough infections.

Panettieri stated that he expects an increase in cases around holidays because more people will be exposed. Panettieri said that this year’s outbreak will be “nowhere near the severity of previous years” due to advances in vaccines and treatments.

There is a downward trend in Covid death rates and hospitalizations. These numbers typically fall by two weeks after people are infected. Based on seven-day data from the Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 48,000 Americans are being hospitalized for the virus. This is the same number as it was two weeks ago. After being stable for the past two weeks, Hopkins has noticed an increase in daily deaths of around 1,200.

The national figures are being driven by outbreaks in the Midwest, Northeast and Northeast. There, cases have risen 56% and 47% respectively over the last two weeks. The hospitalization rate has risen 20% and 7%, respectively.

The Northeast’s highly dense cities and the Midwest’s colder temperatures – compared with the South, where cases have plunged as more comfortable weather rolls in – could help explain those regional differences, Panettieri noted.

Panettieri explained that the weather forces people to stay indoors and more indoor activities would be a great way to increase the enjoyment.

Panettieri stated that everyone should be aware of whether others have done their best to protect themselves from Covid exposure. However, despite the possibility of another Covid epidemic this winter, progresses in vaccines and natural immunity in those who were exposed to Covid in the Delta surge are making the U.S. “much more fortunate” than the last Thanksgiving, Dr. Arturo Casadevall of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said in an email.

Casadevall said that if someone has any respiratory symptoms, such as colds and flu-like diseases, then they should be tested for COVID-19 before getting to spend time with family members. To ensure a safe vacation, it is important to use common sense, be cautious and get vaccines.