Others fly despite CDC calls not to travel



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Bryan alexander

| USA TODAY

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Americans are flocking to airports to travel before the Thanksgiving vacation, even as the COVID-19 pandemic rages across the country and after the Centers for Disease Control pleaded with Americans not to travel.

More than one million air travelers passed through security checkpoints at U.S. airports on Friday for just the second time since the start of the pandemic, according to the TSA. The number of trips reached close to one million on Saturday, bringing the two-day total to more than two million passengers.

The flock of Friday travelers came a day after the CDC issued its warning against vacation travel. At a press briefing Thursday, Dr Henry Walke, the CDC’s COVID-19 incident manager, said the agency recommended “not to travel during Thanksgiving period.”

“The tragedy that could happen is that one of your family members comes to this family reunion and they could end up seriously ill, hospitalized or dying. And we don’t want that to happen,” he said, as the number of COVID -19 cases multiply across the country. “These times are tough.”

Warning: CDC advises Americans not to travel on Thanksgiving

Roger Dow, president and CEO of the US Travel Association industry group, said he expects some people to heed the CDC’s recommendation, but noted that the AAA expects 50 million to Americans will be traveling for Thanksgiving.

Johns Hopkins University reported a record 195,542 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States on Friday.

The CDC said the concern was not just about travel, but the resulting large family reunions around the holidays, which could spread the highly contagious virus.

Regarding specific safety tips for the Thanksgiving collection, the CDC recommends:

  • Bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups and utensils
  • Avoid going through areas where food is being prepared, such as the kitchen
  • Use of single-use options, such as salad dressing and condiment bags
  • Use disposable items such as food containers, plates and utensils.

If you’re planning to hold a rally, the CDC recommends keeping it outside, limiting the number of people, and asking guests to bring their own food and drink. If the food is shared, the agency suggests that only one person serve the food.

Los Angeles International Airport took the unusual step of giving advice on Wednesday with its annual travel advice for the holidays.

“If you don’t have to travel for the holidays, don’t,” the airport said. in a tweet. “For those who do, wear a mask, stay physically distant, and stay safe.”

Contributor: Sara M Moniuszko



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