Millions travel ahead of Thanksgiving despite rising COVID-19 cases

Cases have exploded in other states as well and governors in some states have instituted virus restrictions like mask mandates and curfews.

Thanksgiving typically heralds the busiest week for travel in the US.

Approximately 40 million people live there, being the most populous state in the United States. The latest measures are not as strict as restrictions imposed between March and May, when all nonessential business and travel was prohibited. Gavin Newsom's 10 p.m. curfew Saturday night.

Hospital admissions increased by 61% across the state in the past two weeks, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Millions of people in the United States are expected to travel for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, ignoring warnings from health officials about furthering the spread of COVID-19 as the nation records its 12 millionth case.

"It's not a requirement".

The head of the agency's task force for community intervention and critical population, Dr. Erin Sauber-Schatz, said that only people living under the same roof for 14 days prior to the holiday celebration should attend any gathering, a recommendation that could, by definition, exclude family members in the military or students who are away at college.

But on Friday, President Donald Trump retweeted Republican Congressman Jim Jordan's words: "Don't lock up the country". Let Americans decide for themselves.

President-elect Joe Biden has also said he is against imposing a national quarantine and is in favor of states setting their own rules. Members, including Vice-President Mike Pence, noted the rise in coronavirus cases.

The White House has also so far declined to engage with Joe Biden and his incoming administration on policy, as Mr Trump refuses to concede the presidential contest.