Unfortunately, people aren’t listening to health experts about staying home for Thanksgiving. This weekend saw the largest increase in travelers since early March, when the pandemic began.
On Friday, TSA screened 1,019,836 people at airport security checkpoints nationwide. This was the second time since the pandemic began that passenger volume has surpassed one million people (the first time was October 18). On Saturday, TSA screened 984,369. Yesterday, Sunday, 1,047,934 people passed through security checkpoints.
Add all three numbers up and it’s more than three million people passing through domestic airports, which doesn’t bode well for hospitals that are already at capacity in some places.
Surprisingly, most health experts aren’t worried about passengers catching the virus on airplanes because of the hospital-quality air filters. They’re more worried about airports and public transportation where people are just standing around without any airflow.
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Dr. Fauci Says Airport Travelers ‘Going to Get Us Into Even More Trouble’
The Oregonian just published a piece stating, “Dr. Anthony Fauci told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that the people at airports, despite federal guidance to avoid travel, “are going to get us into even more trouble than we’re in right now.” He noted that new COVID-19 cases from Thanksgiving won’t become evident till weeks later, making it “very difficult” as the virus spirals out of control heading into colder weather and the December holiday season. Fauci said a substantial portion of people being hospitalized for the virus are now between the ages of 40 and 59, as well as the elderly and vulnerable.”
That’s troubling to say the least.
A new poll published on ABC News NY says that 1 in 3 parents say family holiday gatherings are worth the risk of catching, spreading COVID-19. Those numbers seem to be accurate but I’m playing it safe since I have two toddlers and to me, it’s not worth the risk. A vaccine is coming so we just need to sit tight for a little longer.
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An Infectious Diseases Specialist Begs You Not to Go Here
If people won’t listen to Dr. Fauci maybe they will listen to Debra Goff, an Infectious Diseases Specialist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Professor of Pharmacy Practice. The website, Eat This, Not That! Health, spoke with Dr. Goff who revealed the places that are on her coronavirus black list.” You can read the article in full for details but she lists:
- Cruises
- Large Indoor Gatherings
- Dinner at a Friend’s House—or With Anyone You’re Not Sheltering With, Including Family
- Theaters
- Public Transportation
I think it’s all pretty much common sense but the fifth item, public transportation, is definitely going to be a challenge for many travelers (and locals), who rely on public transport to get around safely, efficiently and cheaply, especially in large cities where traffic can be gnarly. But you can’t put a price on health, now can you?
Commercial airlines, trains, and buses are a form of public transportation – as long as you can afford to pay the fare or get a ticket to board, it is open to the public.