Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine told reporters Monday that people should not be gathering for the holidays — that includes Thanksgiving.

“We are asking people to not get together actually with their loved ones and their friends,” said Levine in news conference Monday. “We want people to stay within their households for holidays and holiday gatherings.”

Levine advised people only visit with extended family, friends and neighbors through remote communication for upcoming holidays in November, December and January.

“I know that's really challenging and I know that's a sacrifice,” she said. “It's not only large gatherings that (contribute) to the spread; it's also relatively small gatherings. “

This came on the same day she reported a continued spike of COVID-19 affecting the entire state and country.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the state added 4,035 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, its highest ever, before recording 2,909 new cases Sunday and 3,402 new cases Monday.

The state reported 49 deaths over that same three-day period. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 9,015 Pennsylvanians have died due to COVID-19.

“In terms of mitigation, we already have mitigation orders in place,” said Levine in a news conference Monday. “This virus is still very dangerous.”

According to multiple daily state reports, Butler County has added 62 new confirmed cases and one new death on Saturday, 62 new cases Sunday and 37 new cases Monday. While four deaths were reported from COVID-19 over the weekend at Butler Memorial Hospital, the residency of those patients has not been reported.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 1,846 county residents have contracted COVID-19 and 32 have died from the virus.

On Monday, Levine and other health officials continued to stress the importance of COVID-19 mitigation tactics, especially wearing a mask. She said too many people are ignoring this guidance.

“Wearing a mask is not a political statement. It is a public health measure,” Levine said. “I do not think we've reached the peak.”

Having made the holiday recommendation at the end of the news conference, Levine again said state officials are not looking at returning to the color-coded system they had used in the spring.