As COVID Numbers Drop, Flights & Travel Go Up
Updated on
- Written by Stacey Rowan Woensdregt, Journalist, Former Writer
Medically reviewed by
Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN
As COVID numbers decrease, air travel increases and U.S. airports are experiencing their busiest days so far since year-end holidays. However, what does this mean for air flight passengers?
As COVID Cases Fall, Leisure Travel Recovers
U.S. airports are seeing a massive spike in air travel, with a good sign of recovery for leisure travel now evident. News reports state that “The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened nearly 8.4 million people from Friday through Monday, more than double the number from a year ago but down 7.5% from the 9 million people the TSA screened in 2020, a month before COVID was declared a pandemic.”
While airline passengers are warned that fares might increase, recommendations for continued health and safety are also advised.
U.S. citizens can now enjoy fewer travel restrictions and travel to more countries but are still encouraged to follow The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Possible Dropping of Predeparture COVID Testing Requirements
Airline passengers heading to the U.S., as announced on news reports, suggest a possible dropping of COVID testing requirements for vaccinations. However, more news on this matter is soon to be made public.
While COVID requirements for those entering the country may change in the future, U.S. citizens traveling in and out of the U.S. are still encouraged to follow CDC’s travel guidelines.
The CDC advises, “Maintaining physical distance to prevent COVID is often difficult on public transportation. People may not be able to keep six feet from others on airplanes, trains, or buses. “
The organization continues, “Protect yourself from COVID by staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines and by wearing a mask on public transportation. Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required in indoor areas of planes traveling into, within, or out of the United States. [Wear masks] while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs (such as airports and stations), regardless of your vaccination status.”
Regarding entry requirements, CDC states that all air passengers two years or older with a flight departing to the U.S. from a foreign country are required to show a negative COVID-19 viral test result taken no more than one day before travel. [They are also advised to show] documentation of having recovered from COVID in the past 90 days before they board their flight.
Is It Safe To Fly Right Now To And From the U.S?
While COVID cases drop, U.S. citizens are still asking if air travel is now safe? The answer to this is unclear. However, until COVID cases hit zero, it is imperative for those who want to travel to be vaccinated and follow health and safety measures.
After all, the more vaccinated airline passengers are and the crew members, the safer it is to fly. It is important to not let guards down and still be vigilant when traveling to and from the U.S. on planes during this time.
As another news report suggests, “There’s not a one-size-fits-all answer to that question — it all depends on a person’s risk tolerance and their own risk factors for severe disease…. As long as people are complying, there’s not a major risk from flying.”
With this, those taking to the skies can expect low-risk COVID transmission. “Transmission on a plane of COVID-19 is not very common because of the (air) circulation and because of the mask-wearing. “
International Air Transport Association backs this up by stating, “The quality of supplied air onboard an aircraft is much better than most indoor environments. This, along with other cabin features including the mandatory usage of masks on board and the requirements around tests and/or vaccination certificates, makes the risk of contracting COVID-19 to be very low.”
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
