[ad_1]
Test, test, 1, 2, 3.
Delta Air Lines CEO slammed a possible coronavirus testing requirement for domestic travel, after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg mentioned an “active conversation” with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
In an interview published Monday with the Associated Press, Delta CEO Ed Bastian rejected the idea of testing people before flights to the United States, citing already low demand and limited testing capacity for medical purposes.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian pushed back on testing people before flights to the United States (AP Photo / Mark Lennihan, File)
DELTA EXTENDS INTERMEDIATE HEADQUARTERS POLICY
“I don’t anticipate that will happen. I certainly hope not,” Bastian said when asked about his thoughts on the CDC considering such a mandate. “The level of travel that we do nationally to the United States – not just Delta, but the industry as a whole – would be significantly reduced from current already low levels if national testing were required. national test administration or monitoring capabilities. “
While the outlet described the executive as “unmoved” by such a demand in the country, Bastian fully supports COVID-19 testing for international travelers entering the United States
“Testing is the key to opening up international markets and borders, so I welcome testing that the [CDC] request [a negative test before travelers enter the U.S]. Testing is going to be an important step in rebuilding consumer confidence, and as that confidence grows I think you can see it. [border] the restrictions are falling, ”he explained.
CATHAY PACIFIC SAYS PREMIUM AIRLINE PASSENGERS WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM WEARING MASKS WHILE TILING: REPORT
In January, the CDC announced that negative tests would be required of passengers on all international flights to the United States, following news of new infectious strains originating from abroad.
Secretary Buttigieg revealed on Sunday that there was an “active conversation” underway with the CDC about the need to test domestic flights in the fight against COVID-19. (Stefani Reynolds / Pool via AP)
Secretary Buttigieg revealed on Sunday that there had been an active discussion with the CDC on the requirement to test domestic flights in the fight against COVID-19.
“There is an active conversation with the CDC right now,” Buttigieg told Axios. “What I can tell you is that it’s going to be driven by data, by science, by medicine and by input from the people who are actually going to have to do this.”
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS
He expanded on the comment the next day, acknowledging that travel industry groups – who widely oppose the COVID-19 testing requirement – had raised “valid points” arguing that such a warrant could eliminate already limited testing for vulnerable communities, and COVID-19 could spread almost as easily as traveling by car.
When CDC chief Dr Rochelle Walensky was asked about the Transportation Secretary’s remarks during a press briefing Monday with the White House COVID-19 response team, she said the agency saw the proposal as a possible additional security measure to stop the spread of the virus. disease.
CLICK HERE FOR CONTINUING FOX NEWS CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
“The more we do screening in the places where people congregate, the more asymptomatic the disease will be that we detect … there is more congregation that occurs at airports and to the extent that we have tests available, for be able to do tests, ”Walensky told reporters.
“First and foremost, I would really encourage people not to travel, but if we do travel, that would be yet another way of mitigating to try and reduce the spread.”
Adam Shaw and the Associated Press of Fox News contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link