(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — With daily confirmed cases hitting new record highs and the U.S. suffering over a thousand COVID-19 fatalities every day, the Centers for Disease Control issued guidance on how Americans should safely spend Thanksgiving.

The strict guidelines is intended to help Americans develop safer plans in light of the ongoing pandemic.  

“The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to celebrate with people in your household. If you do plan to spend Thanksgiving with people outside your household, take steps to make your celebration safer,” reports the agency on its official website.

Should families choose to celebrate the holiday with others, it is advised that guests bring their own cups, utensils, plates, food and drinks — on top of avoiding areas where food or cocktails are being prepared.

Hosts should thoroughly sanitize their households and, weather permitting, keep windows open.

Should guests not wish to bring their own utensils, the CDC urges that dinner be served on single use options and safely disposed of when finished.

COVID-19 has infected more than 10.2 million Americans and has killed nearly 240,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.  

This week has been especially tough, due to record high numbers of new cases and deaths.  Between November 2 and November 8, the nation reported an additional 730,925 new cases and 6,654 deaths.  Those numbers reflect a 29.2 percent and 15.1 percent over last week, respectively, reports the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.