There are more and more signs that the pandemic is over for most Americans, even it is not for our media and some politicians.
The nation is back to traveling to be home for the holidays again.
And, egads…they may even dine indoors!
Debbie Rodriguez said she thought “long and hard” about canceling this year’s family Christmas trip to New York City before opting last-minute on Thursday to travel from Houston.”We just decided we’re not going to live in fear,” said Rodriguez, 48, as she waited for luggage at New York’s LaGuardia airport with her husband and two children.Rodriguez said her fully vaccinated family had planned to see the Rockettes’ Christmas show before it was canceled due to the COVID outbreak, so they will instead check out landmarks including the Statue of Liberty and Central Park.On Christmas Day, they will dine indoors at a restaurant in Harlem away from the crowds, then visit the Empire State Building, she said.
And while the numbers aren’t quite up to pre-pandemic levels, TSA officials said the number of passengers recently screened at the nation’s airports is nearly double what it was a year ago.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials said its officers screened more than two million people a day at airports nationwide since Friday.Lines at BWI Thurgood Marshall airport were steady early Tuesday morning.It doesn’t seem like people are letting Covid or the rapidly spreading Omnicron variant ruin or change their holiday plans.
Interestingly, airlines have not sounded the alarm over Omicron as they did over the Delta variant.
In fact, some airlines have instead indicated that Americans are showing resilience and sticking with their travel plans.There was likely a contingent of travelers expecting to fly this weekend who did not fly due to Omicron fears. While the total public health impact on Omicron is unclear thus far, it appears to have fewer implications for domestic travel compared to international.Airlines have been a little more cautious on their outlook for the return of international travel, pending the ongoing impact of Omicron, which thus far seems to be more transmissible and could deter some travelers who are worried about being stuck overseas as a result of a positive test.
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