Tag Archives: travel

Health and Lifestyle, National

Millions take to the skies for the holidays

United States air travel reached levels not seen since Thanksgiving, with over three-million air passengers passing through TSA checkpoints in the last three days. Analysts are estimating ten-million air passengers will travel over the next week. The holiday air travel is happening despite pleas from local, state, and federal officials to stay home, as hospitals across the nation become overwhelmed with COVID patients.

Earlier today, Governor Jay Inslee of Washington announced travel restrictions for people from the U.K. and South Africa. In the U.K., officials have identified a new strain of COVID that is more contagious but not more lethal. The variant in South Africa is also a new strain and targets younger victims with worse symptoms. Over 40 nations had issued travel bans to and from the U.K. and South Africa by Monday evening. The CDC has the two countries at a level 4 alert: “do not travel,” while the U.S. State Department has issued a level 3 alert, “travel not recommended.”

The Washington travel restriction is not a ban. Still, people traveling from the U.K. or South Africa must self-quarantine for 14 days after their arrival. According to the website, FlightsFrom, there are 13 scheduled direct flights between Seattle and London this coming week.

On Friday, a United Airlines flight from Orlando to Los Angeles diverted to New Orleans due to an onboard health emergency. The male passenger died, and the CDC may start advising others on the flight to seek a COVID test. According to eye witness accounts, the man was in poor health with breathing difficulty when he boarded the plane. His wife told officials he had COVID-like symptoms but elected to board the aircraft anyway. 

The United States is leading the world in daily COVID infections, total infected, daily deaths, and total deaths. 

Health and Lifestyle, National

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.

Health and Lifestyle, National

Almost 4 million people take to the skies in the last four days

Despite surging COVID cases and record hospitalizations, 3.97 million Americans passed through TSA checkpoints from November 20 to November 23. On CBS “Face the Nation,” Dr. Anthony Fauci appealed for people to do a risk-benefit assessment. In his interview, Fauci stated, “people at airports…are going to get us into even more trouble than we are in right now.”

Over three-million COVID cases have been reported in the United States between November 1 and 22. The dizzying increase in positive tests represents almost 25% of all COVID cases in the United States since January 21. According to Johns Hopkins, 9.6% of tests are coming back positive, indicating significant under testing.

Multiple departments of transportation officials reported near-normal levels of pre-holiday traffic across the United States on the roads. AAA had predicted 50 million Americans would travel by car, a 10% reduction from 2019. Although many Americans are opting to stay home, too many are traveling to mitigate significant spread.

Although being on an airplane wearing a mask is considered to have moderate risk, passengers have no control over who is masked. Additionally, the airport themselves and queues for security, check-in, restrooms, and retail are higher-risk activities. Travel by car with members of the same household is safer than air travel, but using the bathroom and fuel and meal stops introduces a higher risk.

To compound the problem, anti-science protesters have events planned in Washington, Oregon, Illinois, and Connecticut. In Washington, protesters are calling for a potluck outside of the governor’s residence.

Health and Lifestyle, National

Air travel hits the highest level since March 2020 despite COVID warnings

Ignoring warnings from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), some Americans have taken to the skies and roads to travel for Thanksgiving. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 1,019,836 travelers went through security on November 20, the largest number of travelers in a single day since March 16.

Trip Advisor predicted that more Americans would take the road for Thanksgiving versus flying. On November 12, AAA predicted that 50 million Americans would drive to a different location for Thanksgiving. If that prediction holds, 15% of Americans will take to the road to celebrate Thanksgiving somewhere else.

Although many Americans are heeding the pleas of federal, state, and local officials to have a virtual Thanksgiving, evidence shows that small and medium gatherings can turn into superspreader events. Poor air circulation, sitting close together with masks off while eating and drinking, and a sense of false safety create additional risks.

Under this backdrop, the United States experienced a record 193,000 new COVID cases in a single day and has over 82,000 people in the hospital with COVID. Detected cases are a leading indicator for hospitalizations, which is a leading indicator of fatalities. Hospitalizations are expected to continue to grow into December, with deaths moving to a new peak by Christmas.

There are positive signs that some Americans and listening to the warnings to stay home. Tiny turkeys, those that weigh 10 to 14 pounds, are in short supply across the country. Severely impacted states like Utah, Iowa, and North Dakota have taken additional action to curb spiraling infections.