With summer vacations just around the corner, airline officials met with White House officials on Tuesday. Their request is to eliminate the requirement that travelers be vaccinated before entering the United States. However, with COVID numbers increasing in various states, the question is whether summer vacations could turn into summer staycations.
“The percentage has gone up, say, from 3 to 4% just a couple of months ago to about 20% positive for COVID,” said Dr. Farrin Manian, a Mercy Hospital infectious disease specialist.
With airlines asking to reduce testing requirements, masks have become particularly important, not because COVID-19 is still a severe disease, but because this way the spread won’t increase during summer vacations.
An industry trade group said international travel dropped 14% from last year. The White House has not yet commented on the matter.
