An expert is warning coronavirus cases in the United States will likely get worse over the coming weeks before a vaccine is available.
The US has recorded over 13 million cases and 266,000 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally, and has reported over 100,000 new infections every day for 26 consecutive days.
While several vaccines have delivered promising results so far, a health expert warns Americans need to "hunker down" and prepare for a difficult winter.
Dr Leana Wen, an emergency medicine physician and visiting professor at George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, told CNN the country "cannot let our guard down".
"The vaccines will make a big difference in the spring and the summer - they're not going to make a difference right now."
She said based on the US' current numbers - there were over 152,000 cases recorded on Saturday (local time) - the country is far from rounding the corner.
"If anything, we are rounding the corner into a calamity… We're soon going to exceed well more than 2000 deaths, maybe 3000, 4000 deaths every single day here in the US."
There were 1202 deaths recorded on Saturday. There was a peak of over 2000 deaths in one day back in April and the beginning of May.
Another expert, medicine professor Dr Jonathan Reiner, said the Thanksgiving holiday earlier this week will likely push case numbers upward.
He described the holiday as "potentially the mother of all superspreader events", with Americans flying from airports throughout the country and possibly carrying the virus with them.
The Centers for Disease Control warned Americans to avoid travelling for Thanksgiving in an effort to stop the spread, but over one million people flew anyway.
Dr Wen said those who did travel and gather with people outside of their household should quarantine for at least seven days and then get tested to prevent further spread.
"That's because those gatherings, in particular indoor gatherings with many people who are not wearing masks for prolonged periods of time, those are the highest risk for transmitting coronavirus," she said.
"If you are unable to get a test because testing remains so limited, you should quarantine for 14 days. And I mean a full quarantine, don't go to work, don't go to school, keep safe."
