Millions of Americans have started traveling across the United States for the holidays despite the rapid advance of the Omicron variant. However, it revives fears related to the Covid-19 pandemic and sparks a new rush on screening tests. With 171,000 daily cases on average over seven days, according to the Covid Act Now site, the wave due to Omicron, already largely dominant among new infections, is about to exceed the peak of that due to the Delta variant.
Although policies and restrictions vary from state to state, President Joe Biden set the tone on Tuesday by urging his compatriots not to “panic” and, thanks to vaccines and tests, to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones. as expected, but avoiding too large gatherings. Result: the traditional trips to join the family often to the other end of the country were in full swing Thursday.
According to estimates by the American Automobile Association, more than 109 million people were expected to leave their immediate area by plane, train or car between December 23 and January 2, an increase of 34% from last year . For example, the airline American Airlines had planned 5,300 flights Thursday, as many as the two previous days.
“This represents 86% of our flight program for the same period of 2019”, during the last end of year celebrations before the Covid-19 comes at length to obstruct most of the trips, said the company.
United Airlines cancels flights because some of its staff are ill
But the spread of Omicron, including among airline crews, could complicate plans for many passengers. United Airlines said it was canceling around 120 flights on Friday. “The peak of Omicron cases across the country this week has had a direct impact on our crews and the people who run our operations,” said the company, which said it is working to find solutions for passengers affected leave as planned.
The movements of travelers are also accompanied by a vaccination rate that seems to be on the rise. 1.3 million booster doses were, for example, inoculated in 24 hours, according to figures released on Wednesday. “The best gift you can give yourself is a booster dose” which protects “much better” against severe forms of the disease, said Cyrus Shahpar, head of the White House, the seat of the presidency, for data on the Covid-19.
VIDEO. Faced with the rise of Omicron, monster queues in New York in front of test centers
In addition to this thrill on the vaccine side, it is a real rush for testing sites and self-screening kits that is occurring. In New York’s Queens neighborhood, where the federal government has opened three new sites, Gabriel says he wants to make sure he’s negative before the holidays. “Even though I’m vaccinated, I know you can still carry the virus, so I just try to make sure that I don’t unnecessarily expose other people, especially at this time, during vacations and on the road. winter, where we’re all on top of each other, ”he says.
Reduced isolation for caregivers
Overall, the American authorities hope that the vaccine-test-mask policy will be enough to pass the course without multiplying the new restrictions. The New York City Hall thus confirmed Thursday that the traditional New Year’s party in Times Square would take place, even if it imposed reduced capacities and the wearing of the compulsory mask. To cope with the new wave, Washington, the federal capital, is now also counting on two pills against Covid-19. The day after the authorization of that developed by the laboratory Pfizer, the United States Medicines Agency (FDA) gave the green light Thursday to the pill from Merck, intended for adults at high risk.
And in case the Omicron wave does overwhelm the American hospital system anyway, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), the main health agency in the United States, relaxed their guidelines on Thursday for the isolation of patients. caregivers infected with Covid-19. The latter will be able, if they are asymptomatic, to resume work after seven days of quarantine, against ten days previously, and obtaining a negative test. “This isolation time can be shortened in the event of staff shortages”, even specify the CDC.
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