Internet Travel With Context
July 12-July 18, 2020
July 12-July 18, 2020
Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 135,000 140,000 while countries such as New Zealand can declare themselves virus-free. New York City, however, said it had its first death-free day since mid-March. Meanwhile, Florida is the new global epicenter of Coronavirus. Latest items are at the top. Read up from the bottom for context.
Coronavirus Update for July 18, 2020
John Lewis, a civil rights pioneer and longtime Atlanta-area Congressman, died from cancer last night. Much of the nation has paused to remember the 80-year-old who was repeatedly beaten and jailed in the 1960s. Here are today's travel developments:
Florida on fire With Florida the new global epicenter of the Coronavirus, local communities are acting to fill the gap left by the state government, which refuses to order a mask mandate. The South Beach Entertainment District has instituted an 8pm curfew, two hours earlier than the existing curfew in Miami-Dade County. Broward County abruptly imposed an 11pm curfew starting last night. And beginning July 24, Monroe County requires bars and restaurants to close at 11pm. Monroe County includes all of the Florida Keys. Chicago changes Chicago now requires visitors and residents returning from 17 high-infection-rate states to observe a 14-day quarantine. Details are here. The city first imposed the rule on July 2 and updates the affected states weekly. Israel is locking down again. Gyms and exercise studios are closed. Stores, malls, barber shops, beauty salons and tourist sites must close on weekends. Starting Tuesday, bars and restaurants may only offer takeout and delivery. Who was that masked repairman? The nation's leading home-improvement chains, Home Depot and Lowe's, will require masks in stores nationwide beginning next week.Coronavirus Update for July 17, 2020
The Transportation Department says U.S. commercial airlines carried 7.9 million passengers in May, down 89 percent from May, 2019. That's a slight improvement from April, however, when passenger traffic was down 96 percent. Here are today's other travel developments: North America is closed The United States, Canada and Mexico mutually agreed to keep borders closed to all but "essential" travel through August 20. First imposed in March, the border closures have now been extended four times. Down again The TSA says 706,164 people passed through security checkpoints on Thursday (July 16). That's down a few thousand from last Thursday and down against 2019 volume. Yesterday's number was 25.9 percent of 2019 volume. Last Thursday it was 27.2 percent of 2019 traffic. Cathay Pacific said its June passenger volume was just one percent of last year's traffic. The Hong Kong flag carrier operated just 4 percent of its flight capacity compared to June, 2019. British Airways says it is immediately retiring its entire fleet of 32 Boeing 747-400 aircraft. Quarantine update New York State says arrivals from 22 high-infection-rate states are now required to quarantine for 14 days. Governor Andrew Cuomo says 92 percent of passengers comply with the mandate to complete a quarantine form when arriving at a New York-area airport. Washington airports have reported dreary May numbers. At Dulles, there were 136 average daily flight departures, down from 507 in May, 2019. At National Airport, there were 68 average daily flights, down from 619 in May, 2019. May passenger traffic at Dulles was down 94 percent compared to May, 2019. National Airport passenger volume was about 20 percent of 2019 levels. Masks of the moment Two more states now require masks: Colorado, effective today, and Arkansas, effective on Monday. Retailers now requiring masks: Target, effective August 1, but the chain says 80 percent of its outlets are in states that already require face coverings; Kroger, the nation's largest supermarket chain, effective July 22; Publix, the large supermarket chain in the Southeast, effective July 21; and CVS Pharmacy, effective Monday. Georgia update Mayors of the Georgia cities that imposed mask mandates rejected Governor Brian Kemp's attempt to overrule the local ordinances. Kemp responded by filing suit in Fulton County Superior Court against Atlanta's mask mandate. Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said her order remains in effect and says the city will fight Kemp in court.Coronavirus Update for July 16, 2020
Thirty-nine states say the Coronavirus infection rate is rising. If you buy into the Trumpian theory that more testing is why we have more "cases," then explain why the hospitalization rates have skyrocketed--several Sunbelt states are out of ICU beds--and the nationwide death rate has picked up again. Here are today's travel developments: Slip slidin' away The commercial flying recovery is turning down now. TSA says about 589,000 people passed through airport security checkpoints yesterday. That is 23.3 percent of 2019 traffic. It is down 43,000 in volume from last Wednesday, when travel was 25.1 percent of 2019 volume. Pennsylvania is retreating. Bars remain open, but only for sit-down meals at tables. Bar service is prohibited. All restaurants are now limited to 25 percent of capacity. The devil goes down to the Georgia statehouse. Republican governor Brian Kemp has now signed an order banning mask mandates imposed by local communities. That will apparently wipe out the mask mandates of cities such as Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Athens and Rome. Kemp continues to insist he believes in wearing a mask. They never promised you a rose garden. The Tournament of Roses parade, a staple of New Year's Day and a pre-Rose Bowl event, has been cancelled. It's the first time in 75 years the parade has been axed. London hotel occupancy was just 23 percent in June, according to STR, the lodging statisticians. Average daily rate was about 72 pounds, down nearly 60 percent from June, 2019.Coronavirus Update for July 15, 2020
Looking for when the second air travel beatdown began? Yesterday might have been the day. The TSA reports about 540,000 people passed through airport checkpoints. That's 22 percent of 2019 volume. That's not only 101,000 fewer people than last Tuesday (July 7), but it's also down in percentage. July 7 was 25.6 percent of 2019 traffic. Here are today's other travel developments: Mask up (finally) Facial covering has a proven track record over decades for curbing the spread of infections. So the only crazy thing is why it has taken so long for states, countries and businesses to impose mask mandates. But maybe the dam finally has broken. Alabama will require masks starting Thursday at 5 p.m. local time. Oregon today extended its existing mask mandate to outdoor locations. France will impose a nationwide mask mandate beginning August 1. Walmart will require masks at all stores starting Monday, July 20. Best Buy requires masks in its stores starting today. Qantas removed all international flights from its published schedule through March 28. The one exception is trans-Tasman flights to New Zealand. Carry it on again Italy has lifted the ban on carry-on luggage on flights. That is effective today. Italy imposed the ban last month on the theory that barring carry-ons would increase social distancing while boarding flights. Philadelphia cancelled large public events through February. That includes the Thanksgiving Day and Mummers Day New Year's Parade and the Philadelphia Marathon. Ironically, Philadelphia allowed a large parade during 1918 that is blamed for spreading the flu virus during the pandemic that killed millions after World War I. Hong Kong Disneyland has closed again. It first closed on January 26 and reopened on June 18.Coronavirus Update for July 14, 2020
Travel may not have plummeted again yet, but the "recovery"--such as it was--has stalled. According to the TSA, 697,985 people passed through airport checkpoints on Monday. That's 26.6 percent of 2019's volume. Here are today's other travel developments: La Compagnie, the all-business-class carrier between New York and France, has once again delayed its restart. It is now scheduled for August 31. Hawaii says arrivals will still have to accept 14-day quarantines until at least August 31. It had planned to allow visitors (who could prove a negative Coronavirus test within 72 hours of their flight) starting August 1. New York now says visitors from high-infection-rate states are required to fill out an identity and contact form and accept a 14-day quarantine. Refusal to fill out the form could lead to a $2,000 fine. The requirement will also include Newark Airport in New Jersey and Hartford Airport in Connecticut. California has closed all bars in the state and told restaurants to scrap indoor dining. Thirty counties, representing about 80 percent of the state's population, will be forced to shutter gyms, churches, hair salons, malls and other businesses. JetBlue Airways says it will continue blocking middle seats and some other seating positions through Labor Day. Nashville says bars will remain closed through July 31. The prohibition was originally due to be lifted on Friday. Don't Come to the Land Down Under All arrivals to New South Wales (that's Sydney) will be required to pay US$2,084 to cover the cost of the mandatory 14-day quarantine at facilities designated by local authorities. That includes returning Australia residents. The payment requirement goes into effect on July 18. Stalled train Virgin Rail US (fka the Brightline) does not expect to resume its Florida train runs before March. The disclosure was made in a filing with the Federal Railroad Administration.Coronavirus Update for July 13, 2020
New York City registers its first day without a Coronavirus death in four months. But 35 states are now recording rising infection rates and increased hospitalizations. The nationwide death rate has turned upward, too. Here are today's travel developments: Data dump The TSA says a total of 2.1 million people passed through airport checkpoints last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That's higher than the 1.9 million people over the Fourth of July weekend. It's also a higher percentage of 2019 traffic (27 percent) than the Fourth of July weekend (26 percent). WestJet says it August schedule reflects a 10 percent increase in flying from July, but a decrease of 75 percent compared to August, 2019. New Zealand says it is virus-free and has lifted domestic Coronavirus restrictions. Travel to the country is still off-limits, however. The BBC has details. Florida recorded 15,300 new Coronavirus cases on Sunday, the highest ever registered on one day in the United States. Governor Ron DeSantis still refuses to impose a statewide mask mandate or take other remedial action. In late April, he declared victory and was feted by the White House. California "found itself unprepared, overwhelmed and constantly lagging" in its battle against Coronavirus, according to a Los Angeles Times investigation. "Those early failures left California far behind ... and it has struggled to keep up even as cases surge today."Coronavirus Update for July 12, 2020
Remember the early claims by the Trump Administration that the Coronavirus would disappear as the weather warmed? It was 115 degrees in Arizona on Saturday and the virus is raging out of control there. Here are today's travel developments: Michigan now requires masks when you are in indoor public spaces. Businesses are required to deny service to people not wearing masks. The order takes effect on Monday. Flying virus Three passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Albany, New York, last Monday subsequently tested positive for the Coronavirus. WSB TV in Atlanta has the details. Aloha Oy! The Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii says the state probably won't reopen to visitors on August 1 as originally planned. He says the governor should make a decision in the next few days. At the moment, Hawaii insists on a 14-day quarantine for all arrivals. The "reopening" plan would require visitors to prove they have tested negative for Coronavirus within 72 hours before arrival. Where do we stand? On a cliff prepared to fall off, if you believe the right-leaning TheHill.com. Details are here. Champagne and radishes French producers say Champagne consumption has plunged during the pandemic. Their latest suggestion? Radishes are the perfect, cheap and low-calorie nibble to pair with the wine. Agence France-Presse has details.