COVID cases continue to soar and travel disruptions greatly as 2022 begins: Coronavirus update: NPR
Travelers will transit through Miami International Airport on Tuesday in Miami.
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Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Travelers will transit through Miami International Airport on Tuesday in Miami.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
In just a few weeks, the United States will mark two years since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in the country, and the number of new infections has never been higher.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 486,428 confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the highest total number of days since the pandemic began, according to agency data.
The spike – promoted by delta variant and highly infectious but potentially milder omicron strain – has plagued many holiday plans and raised a big question mark at the start of the new year, now the country’s third during the pandemic.
Travelers face wave of flight cancellations
One area hampered by the recent surge in COVID cases is air travel, and those trying to fly on holiday continue to face an uphill battle to get off the runway.
Airlines canceled more than 2,400 flights in the US at midday on Saturday, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Chicago, which is also under a winter storm warning, has experienced hundreds of flight cancellations at its two main airports.
There have been another 2,000 delays affecting US flights.
And there is likely to be more disruption to air travel. The Federal Aviation Administration warned that an increase in the number of air traffic controllers who test positive for COVID could cause more flight disruptions, based on The Wall Street Journal.
An FAA spokesperson told the newspaper: “To maintain safety, traffic volume at some facilities may be reduced, resulting in delays during busy times.
It’s not just airlines that are affected by the recent increase. The CDC says there has also been an increase in the number of COVID cases among cruise ship staff and passengers, and it warns people to avoid cruise ship travel regardless of their vaccination status.
Colleges and universities move to online classes to start new semester
The list of colleges choosing to start the upcoming semester with remote instruction also continues to grow.
Duke University, American University and Michigan State University were among those who announced this week that they were delaying the start of in-person classes to slow the spread of COVID on their campus.
“I find that students like it in person and so do I, but it’s important that we do so in a safe way,” said MSU president Samuel L. Stanley Jr. said in a statement. “Starting the semester remotely and reducing campus density in the coming weeks could be one solution to slowing the spread of the virus.”
They participate other higher education institutions have announced plans for a remote start to the new school year at the beginning of last month.
