Christmas travel drops significantly due to coronavirus, but health experts still fear post-holiday spike
Patriot-NewsDec 23, 2020
Christmas is here, and so are two coronavirus vaccines.
But public-health officials say it is still too soon to travel.
And judging by the spike in cases after
Despite the warnings from health officials, many Americans are still traveling and gathering for Christmas, though not nearly as many as there would have been had this been any year other than 2020.
But if you do choose to travel, there are some recommended precautions to take.
Holiday spread
Though there has been a dip in the rate of positive tests in the last week,
The percentage of positive cases dropped to 15.8% in the week of
“A decrease in percent positivity this week shows that we must continue to stay the course as we prevent the spread of this virus,” Wolf said in a statement.
But concerns remain about another uptick after Christmas.
“We know that one of the best parts of the holiday season is spending time with those we love, but this year, we must rethink what that looks like,”
Gatherings, big and small, can still be transmit the virus, she said.
“Every Pennsylvanian has a role to play,” Barton said. “The actions we take now will affect the impact of COVID-19 in our communities.”
But people are still planning to travel.
Travel by car
More than one-third of Americans plan to take a holiday road trip, GasBuddy.com is reporting.
“It’s been a nightmarish year for many due to the spread of COVID-19 and economic challenges that came with it, but many Americans have deeply rooted traditions for the holiday and are unwilling to let them slip away like the rest of the year,”
While 34% of those surveyed are traveling, about 60% say COVID-19 has impacted their travel plans. Most are staying home, but 10% have switched their mode of transportation from plane or train to automobile.
According
“While
According to
For those who are traveling around the
Travel by plane
At the
It has been a rough year overall.
“2019 was the best year ever, while 2020 will be the worst year ever,” Miller said.
A strong economy, an increase in the number of flights and competitive rates made for a great 2019 at HIA, but that all dropped off due to the coronavirus, he said.
For the entire year, he expects travel to and from HIA to be down 58% compared to 2019.
The vaccines give some hope to the airline industry that people will start flying again in 2021, but it won’t be an overnight turnaround.
“There are so many more factors involved to get people flying again,” he said. “New cases need to go down, travel-related restrictions and advisories need to be removed, businesses need to reopen, business travelers need to fly again as airline reservations need to be made. The airline industry is much smaller now and the competition between cities for fewer airplanes is going up. Many cities have lost service and it won’t all come back.”
Wild weather for the holidays
If you are traveling, some potentially hazardous weather is expected in central
According to the
Wind gusts of 40 mph are in store, as well.
In the overnight hours
This will be followed by single-digit to below-zero wind chills Friday and Saturday.
Precautions
If you do choose to travel,
Also, know what is expected of you when you return home. Many localities require COVID-19 testing prior to and after traveling.
Follow public health guidance,
And,
While PennDOT officials note that the
“PennDOT is advising those who do travel to drive with care during the holiday season,” Thompson said. “Buckle up, put the phone down, don’t drink and drive, obey posted speed limits, and in the spirit of the holiday, be patient and courteous with other motorists.”
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