In a new statement, the industry group Airlines For America insists that being on board a plane carries a low risk of coronavirus infection due to heavily filtered air and the use of masks with federal warrants. “We are confident that this tiered approach significantly reduces risk,” the group said.
The announcement comes after the CDC said those who are vaccinated can meet with other vaccinated people and even low-risk people who are not vaccinated, but should avoid traveling.
“Every time there is an increase in travel, we have an increase in cases in this country,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during Monday’s briefing on the coronavirus response in the White House.
Health experts remain concerned that spring break trips will lead to an increase in coronavirus infection rates.
It seems like more people are already starting to travel.
The Transportation Security Administration says it examined nearly 1.3 million at airports on Sunday, the highest figure since the Jan. 3 holiday trip. The TSA examined nearly a million or more people a day each day since Thursday, meaning 4.5 million people flew in for four days.
This is the second pandemic-related disagreement between the airline industry and the new Biden administration.