Almost 1.2 million fly home on Sunday despite pleas not to travel

Sunday saw another air travel record in the United States, with 1.18 million passengers going through TSA checkpoints on Sunday. It was the highest number to go through security since March 16, 2020, and only 8,100 short of the mid-March milestone. Over 13 times more passengers flew on Sunday versus April 14, 2020, basement, when COVID infections numbers were near their spring peak.

In stark contrast, 90,000 Americans are in the hospital with COVID and 6,000 on ventilators, both records since the first infection in January 2020. In some parts of the country, infection rates are the worst recorded. In Denver, a group of 10 or more had a 53% chance of at least one person being infected. In Bismark, North Dakota, it was a 92% chance, while Miami and Seattle had a 26% chance.

Regionally on the roads, traffic was relatively light across the passes and not choked with holiday travelers. Stevens Pass had an advisory for traction tires, but there were no significant issues. Blewitt and Snoqualmie Passes were clear and dry with free-flowing traffic.

In Chelan and Grant County, where the worst infection rates are in the state, mask compliance was low, particularly in Chelan. Further to the north in Okanagon County, mask compliance was high, particularly in Twisp despite the numerous Culp signs.

The CDC is advising anyone who traveled over the extended holiday weekend to get a COVID test. However, many states are still struggling with adequate test kits, lab facilities, and staff. In Washington state, people have been advised not to get a test unless they are symptomatic, with wait times stretching into the hours.

Officials and data scientists have warned that a drop in overall test numbers from Thursday to Sunday will create a false dip in positive test numbers. Many test facilities were closed during part of the long weekend, and labs are dealing with a backlog.

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