ASHLEY: THANKSGIVING IS THIS WEEK. THERE ARE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE SITTING DOWN FOR A FAMILY DINNER. JOINING US DIRECTOR OF INFECTION PREVENTION AT JOHNS HOPKINS, DR. LISA MARAGAKOS. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR MASKING, WHAT DO YOU SAY? THE HOLIDAYS ARE A PARTICULAR RISK BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING SURGING NUMBERS OF CASES OF VIRAL TRANSMISSION. SO IT IS SO IMPORTANT. WE ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO KEEP THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY SAFE BY WEARING MASKS AND REALLY CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS ONLY WITH THOSE IN YOUR IMMEDIATE HOUSEHOLD THIS YEAR. >> OKAY. AND SO IF WE'RE NOT SEEING, YOU KNOW, OUR RELATIVES, POSSIBLY OUR OLDER RELATIVES, GRANDPARENTS, DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS WITH HOW PEOPLE CAN CONNECT WITH THEM? I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL WANT TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT FEELING OF TOGETHERNESS. >> OF COURSE. WE TALK ABOUT PHYSICAL DISTANCING, BUT WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF NOT CREATING SOCIAL ISOLATION. SO USING ELECTRONIC MEANS AND OTHER WAYS TO REACH OUT TO OUR FAMILY, OUR FRIENDS, THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY BE ALONE FOR THE HOLIDAYS. IT'S SO IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND WE'VE BEEN LATELY, THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRESSION OF THE VACCINES AND THE NEW DATA AVAILABLE ON THAT. WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH ALL OF THOSE VACCINES AND THE TIMELINE OF EVERYTHING? >> IT IS SUCH ENCOURAGING NEWS. AND WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. AND SO I THINK IT SHOULD GIVE US ALL A SENSE OF HOPE THAT THE TIMELINE IS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. BUT WE STILL HAVE A NUMBER OF WEEKS AND POTENTIALLY MONTHS TO GO THROUGH SOME VERY DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD. SO I WOULD SAY SEIZE ON TO THE HOPE, BUT BUCKLE DOWN RIGHT NOW AND HAVE SOME PATIENCE AND PERSISTENT WITH ALL OF THE SAFETY MEASURES. ASHLEY: ON A PERSONAL NOTE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR THANKSGIVING? ARE YOU STAYING HOME WITH YOUR FAMILY OR STAYING PUT? >> DEFINITELY STAYING PUT AND CELEBRATING ONLY WITH MY IMMEDIATE HOUSEHOLD. THAT'S RIGHT. AND WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS THROUGH THE COMPUTER. ASHLEY: WE'VE GOT TO FOLLOW YOUR LEAD ON THAT. YOU KNOW BEST. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION AND HAV