As New York City heads into Christmas, elected officials are reminding everyone to stay safe and practice social distancing.

This time of year is when thousands of people would pack their bags and travel to go see family and friends. However, because of COVID-19, state and local officials have urged New Yorkers to think differently as countries all over the world continue to battle coronavirus and concerns rise over a new COVID-19 strain detected in the U.K.

State numbers show the city’s seven-day average positivity rate is at 5.37%. In the Bronx, the positivity rate is at 5.07% and Brooklyn stands at 4.44%.

Those numbers continue to fluctuate and for that reason Mayor Bill de Blasio has been adamant about keeping holiday gatherings small this year. ​

"We're getting warning signs all over the place. Even though, thank God we have the vaccine, thank God our hospitals are doing well— we are not out of the woods," de Blasio says. "If you don't have to travel, do not travel. Just cancel your travel plans. Stay local, stay safe. If you're doing any kind of gathering, keep it very small, keep it very safe. Practice distancing. Wear a mask."

If you do travel, remember all passengers coming from the United Kingdom will be getting a Department of Health commissioner's order to quarantine for two weeks.