Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nations top infectious diseases expert, on Wednesday urged Americans to have a low-key Christmas to avoid spreading the coronavirus .

Im going to be with my wife period, Fauci told The Washington Post . The Christmas holiday is a special holiday for us because Christmas Eve is my birthday. And Christmas Day is Christmas Day. And they are not going to come home. Thats painful. We dont like that. But thats just one of the things youre going to have to accept as we go through this unprecedented challenging time.

Fauci turns 80 on Dec. 24. He has three adult daughters and none will visit him or his wife Christine Grady over the holidays.

The United States currently has a big problem as daily new infections, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 continue to surge, Fauci continued. Look at the numbers the numbers are really quite dramatic.

The pandemic has now killed more than 300,000 people nationwide. Wednesday saw 244,365 new cases reported and 3,607 deaths.

Fauci last week revealed that the 32-year-old brother of his daughters boyfriend died after contracting COVID-19.

He encouraged people to stay at home as much as you can, keep your interactions to the extent possible to members of the same household.

This cannot be business as usual this Christmas because were already in a very difficult situation, and were going to make it worse, if we dont do something about it, he added.