With the coronavirus surging out of control, the nation's top public health agency pleaded with Americans on Thursday not to travel for Thanksgiving and not to spend the holiday with people from outside their household.

The warning from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention came as the White House coronavirus task force held a briefing for the first time in months and Vice President Mike Pence concluded it without responding to questions by reporters or urging Americans not to travel. The warning was some of the firmest guidance yet from the government on curtailing traditional gatherings to fight the outbreak. The warning comes at a time when diagnosed infections, hospitalisations and deaths are skyrocketing across the country.