Read all about it! More than 48% of the nation has been fully vaccinated, but the U.S. death toll from Coronavirus passes 606,000 and new infections of the Delta variant are surging. England plans to lift its last Coronavirus restrictions on July 19, but there are critics. Ryanair and EasyJet will continue to impose their mask mandates. Traffic at Copenhagen, Paris and Athens airports remains well below 2019 levels. Canada cracks the travel door open, but Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Spain, Thailand and South Korea reimpose some restrictions. Tokyo bars spectators from Olympic events. And more.

Coronavirus Update: Friday, July 9, 2021

Four million people worldwide have now died from the Coronavirus. Politico.com has the details. Here are today's other developments:
        Weekend warm-up   The TSA says that 2,027,364 people passed through U.S. airport security checkpoints Thursday. It's 77.7% of comparative 2019 volume.
        A new plateau   There were 20,061 new Coronavirus cases in the United States on Thursday, says Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 257. The 20,000-case plateau seems to be the new normal, distressing considering we had gone near 10,000-a-day before the Delta variant.
        Hotel dip   After weeks of growth, the average nightly occupancy rate at U.S. hotels dipped to 65.4% for the week ending July 3. San Francisco/San Mateo continues to lag the top markets with only 50.9% occupancy, according to STR, the lodging statisticians.
        Slippery Greece   Despite an increase of flights from the United States, Athens airport remains at 77% of 2019 volume. More than 165,000 flights were lost at Athens since March 1, 2020, according to Eurocontrol, the air traffic control system for Europe.
        Tunisia crumbles   Tunisia's health system has "collapsed" under the weight of the pandemic and Coronavirus has had a "catastrophic" impact on the country, a health ministry spokeswoman said Thursday. France24 has the details.
        Capital concerns   Bangkok and nine other provinces around the Thai capital are now under a curfew from 9pm to 4am. People "won't be allowed out of their homes except for necessary cases," Thai officials said. Meanwhile, in Seoul, Coronavirus curbs have been raised to their highest levels. Starting Monday (local time), schools are closed, gatherings are limited to two people and cafes and restaurants must end dine-in service by 10pm. Entertainment venues, including bars and clubs, must close for two weeks.

Coronavirus Update: Thursday, July 8, 2021

The TSA says it screened more than 10.1 million travelers over the Fourth of July holiday weekend from July 1-5. That represents 83% of travel volume for the same 5-day holiday period in 2019. Thursday, July 1, was the busiest day, with TSA screening 2,147,090 people. Here are today's other developments:
        Another Olympic shoe drops   Olympic organizers have now banned all spectators from all events at the Tokyo games, still scheduled for this month. International fans had already been barred and capacity at venues limited to 50%. The games themselves were delayed from last year--and opinion polls say virtually no one in Japan wants the games held now.
        After the gold rush II   The TSA says that 1,880,160 people passed through U.S. airport security checkpoints Wednesday. It's 74.7% of comparative 2019 volume.
        Hello, are you listening?   There were 22,931 new Coronavirus cases in the United States on Wednesday, says Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 312. Before the Delta variant began to surge, the 7-day average of new infections had dropped to around 13,000 per day.
        Later ...   Vietnam has delayed the Southeast Asian Games, the regional sports competition originally scheduled for November. Malaysia Now has the details.
        Red scare   Russia's latest outbreak of Coronavirus, twinned with the population's suspicion of the Sputnik V vaccine, is causing havoc in the country. Things are much worse than the authoritarian Putin regimen is letting on. Foreign Policy magazine has the details.

Coronavirus Update: Wednesday, July 7, 2021

The Delta strain accounted for more than half of the Coronavirus cases in the United States between June 20 and July 3, according to the CDC. An agency spokesperson says the Delta variant jumped from 30.4% of cases for the two-week period ending June 19 to 51.7% between June 20 and July 3. Politico.com has the details. Here are today's other developments:
        After the gold rush   The TSA says that 1,889,911 people passed through U.S. airport security checkpoints Tuesday. It's 75.4% of comparative 2019 volume.
        You were warned   There were 24,224 new Coronavirus cases in the United States on Tuesday, says Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 339. The statistics are skewed by holiday reporting patterns, of course, but it's been weeks since we had more than 20,000 new cases in one day.
        Nobody died one day   The Illinois Department of Public Health reported no new Coronavirus fatalities on Monday, the first time since March 16, 2020, a span of 476 days. The Chicago Sun-Times has the details.
        Meanwhile ...   Sydney extended its Covid lockdown another week. (See details here.) Vietnam ordered a lockdown of Ho Chi Minh City (fka Saigon). (See details here). Indonesia added a nationwide lockdown, expanding restrictions originally placed on Java and Bali. (See details here.) And Japanese officials announced a state of emergency for Tokyo, apparently clearing the way for the Olympics to be held without spectators.
        Europe skies   are at 60% of 2019 aircraft traffic, according to a seven-day average calculated by Eurocontrol, which handles the continent's air traffic control.

Coronavirus Update: Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Almost all of the people who died from Covid-19 in the United States in June had not been vaccinated, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci. TheHill.com has the details. Here are today's other developments:
        Holiday's end   The TSA says 2,160,147 people passed through U.S. airport security checkpoints Monday. It's 78.6% of comparative 2019 volume.
        Low, but ...   There were 5,528 new Coronavirus cases in the United States Monday, says Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 41. The statistics are skewed by holiday reporting patterns and experts have noticed a sharp upswing in cases in states where the vaccination rate remains low.
        Slowly it turns ...   Canada has finally begin loosening some travel restrictions first imposed in March, 2020. Most changes only affect fully vaccinated Canadians traveling on "essential" business, but it's a start. Global News of Canada has the mind-numbing details.
        The Aloha Spirit is off   The Mayor of Maui County--that also includes the islands of Lanai, Molokai, Kahoʻolawe, and Molokini--says Maui is now getting too many tourists. He wants the airlines to sell fewer seats. West Hawaii Today has the peculiar details.
        Maybe they should go to the British Isles ...   Tourism in the United Kingdom fell 86% for travel agents between February and December, 2020. Unfortunately, 2021 isn't looking any better. International tourism is only expected to be 28% of pre-Coronavirus levels. Overall, summer tourism spending is only expected to reach 56% of 2019 levels. The statistics were compiled by Visit Britain, the official tourism agency.
        Catalonia clamps down again   Facing a sharp rise in Coronavirus cases attributed to the Delta variant, Catalonia in Spain is reinstating some virus restrictions, including weekend nightclub closures and limits on attendance at outdoor events. France24 has the details.
        Races to nowhere   The Australian Grand Prix and Australian MotoGP have been cancelled in 2021 for the second consecutive year.

Coronavirus Update: Monday, July 5, 2021

CNN says the number of new Coronavirus cases in the United States is up 15% in the last two weeks. The network adds that 20 states and the District of Columbia reached the White House goal of 70% of adults at least partially vaccinated by July 4. All of those states voted for Biden. No state that voted for Trump reached the 70% threshold. Here are today's other developments:
        Fallback   The TSA says that 1,681,896 people passed through U.S. airport security checkpoints Sunday, July 4. It's 60.2% of comparative 2019 volume, but the statistics are skewed by how the holiday fell.
        Fabulous, but ...   There were 3,697 new Coronavirus cases in the United States on Sunday, says Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 33. But it's a qualified victory since as many as 18 states and territories do not report Coronavirus stats for Sundays, according to Johns Hopkins.
        We've been here before   England has now set July 19 for the ending of virtually all Coronavirus restrictions, including the mask mandate. It's the second time England has tried to get to "phase 4" of its reopening plan--and not everyone agrees with the timing now, either. The Guardian has the details.
        Count us out  Ryanair and EasyJet said today that they will not follow England's reopening plan and will continue to enforce mask mandates. The mandates will remain in effect to all destinations in Europe, the carriers said.
        Lonely mermaid   Copenhagen Kastrup Airport is running at 48% of 2019 volume, according to Eurocontrol, the continent's air traffic control system.

Coronavirus Update: Weekend, July 3-4, 2021

With southern (read: red) states lagging, the United States reached 67% of adults at least partially vaccinated on July 4. The White House goal was 70%. TheHill.com has the details. Here are this weekend's other developments:
        Weekend wonder   The TSA says that 4.1 million people passed through U.S. airport security checkpoints on Friday and Saturday. This compares to 4.5 million in 2019 over comparative Fourth of July weekend days.
        Charmless Canadians   The U.S. Transportation Department wants to fine Air Canada more than $25 million for cancelling flights in the early days of the pandemic and refusing to refund tickets. Air Canada's response--the PDF is here--is startling: It claims the DOT has no authority on a Canadian carrier even when it flies in the United States. It also claims the DOT doesn't actually require refunds.
        The bolts come off   Bolt Bus, the groundbreaking low-fare division of Greyhound, won't roll again. Bolt was suspended in the early days of the pandemic and Greyhound has now confirmed it won't return. The New York Times has the details.
        We don't always have Paris   Paris/CDG has lost more than 440,000 flights since March 1, 2020. International traffic is down 67%. Overall traffic remains down 53%. Figures were compiled by Eurocontrol, which operates the European air traffic control network.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for June 26-July 2

Read all about it! Nearly 48% of the nation is fully vaccinated, but the U.S. death toll from Coronavirus has passed 605,000. After passing the 2-million traveler mark ten times in June, the Fourth of July also starts with a bang. Average U.S. hotel occupancy rates are the highest since October, 2019. Thailand, South Africa, Bangladesh and Indonesia add new Coronavirus restrictions. Australia now says only 3,000 travelers a week may enter the country. International traffic on Asia/Pacific carriers is just 4.3% of 2019 levels. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for June 19-June 25

Read all about it! Hawaii lifts testing requirement for vaccinated visitors. More than 46% of the nation has been fully vaccinated, but the total U.S. death toll from Coronavirus has now passed 603,000. The TSA says more than 2.1 million people flew on Sunday, highest total since March, 2020. Coronavirus deaths in Brazil pass 500,000. Qantas grows domestic schedule since most Australia international traffic remains forbidden. Europe reaches 50% of 2019 flight levels. Airline seat capacity worldwide remains 43% below 2019 levels. The Netherlands reopens to U.S. visitors, but not to Canadians. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for June 12-June 18

Read all about it! At least 44% 45% of the nation has been fully vaccinated, but the total U.S. death toll from Coronavirus has now passed 600,000. The TSA says more than two million people flew on three separate days in the last week, the most since March 6, 2020. Denmark, Spain, France and Switzerland drop mask mandates and France opens to visitors on Monday. Britain delays its reopening for another month. Surging infection rates force Moscow, Lisbon and the Chilean capital of Santiago to shut all or most services. Canada and the United States keep land borders closed for another month. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for June 5-June 11

Read all about it! At least 43% of the nation has been fully vaccinated, but more than 598,000 have died from the virus. The TSA says nearly two million people flew on two separate days this week, the most since early March, 2020. Two cruise ships report passengers tested positive for Coronavirus. Florida stops reporting daily virus or vaccination data. Mississippi's governor shrugs off state's horrific death toll and low vaccination rate. Europe skies are filling up again, but British passenger traffic in the first quarter fell 94% compared to 2019. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for May 29-June 4

Read all about it! More than 41% of the nation has been fully vaccinated, but more than 594,000 596,000 Americans have died from the virus. Malaysia locks down for two weeks and Hanoi halts international flights. Nearly two million travelers flew from U.S. airports on several days during the Memorial Day weekend. U.S. hotels still selling 300,000 fewer hotel rooms each day. Heathrow in London reopens Terminal 3 to serve visitors required to submit to mandatory quarantine. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for May 22-May 28

Read all about it! More than 39% 40% of the nation now has been fully vaccinated. More than 589,000 590,000 593,000 Americans have died from the virus. France reopens to vaccinated travelers next month, but requires British visitors to self-quarantine on arrival. Airline traffic once again passes the 1.8-million mark--and briefly hits 90% of comparative 2019 volume. A United Airlines sweepstakes awards a year of travel for two if you enter vaccine information. Melbourne locks down again. Cruises return to Alaska waters in July, but a Florida restart is hampered by the governor's political executive order. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for May 15-May 21

Read all about it! About 36% 37% 38% of the nation now has been fully vaccinated. More than 585,000 586,000 587,000 588,000 Americans have died from the virus. Daily airline traffic in the United States passes 1.8 million for the first time since the pandemic began and has been at least 60% of 2019 volume for 17 of the first 20 days in May. Seven New York State airports, including LaGuardia and Kennedy, will offer one-shot J&J vaccinations all next week. Southwest Airlines says business travel revenue remains 80% below 2019 levels. There's a red state-blue state divide over vaccinations. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for May 8-May 14

Read all about it! More than 30% 35% 36% of the nation has been fully vaccinated. More than 580,000 584,000 Americans have died from the virus. Daily airline traffic in the United States passes the 1.7-million mark--and 70% of 2019 volume--for the first time in more than 13 months. United Airlines, the only U.S. carrier serving India, cuts flights. England's reopening leaves U.S. visitors encased in amber. Italy isn't welcoming Americans yet. Australia won't open borders for another year. Singapore imposes new restrictions after an outbreak at Changi Airport. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for May 1-May 7

Read all about it! More than 575,000 580,000 Americans have died from the virus. More than 27% 28% 29% 30% of the nation has been fully vaccinated. Daily airline traffic in the United States passes the 1.6-million mark for the first time in more than 13 months. The U.S. halts flights from India and Singapore imposes a 21-day quarantine on most arriving travelers. Costa Rica expects 2021 tourism to be worse than 2020. The Tasman flying bubble springs a leak. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for April 24-April 30

Read all about it! More than 570,000 575,000 Americans have died from the virus. More than 25% 26% 27% of the nation has now been fully vaccinated. Italy begins relaxing Coronavirus restrictions. Austria and Ireland will wait until mid-May. France's reopening comes in stages through June. French Polynesia reopens to U.S. visitors, but requires full vaccination and negative PCR test. The CDC says that cruises will resume this summer. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for April 17-April 23

Read all about it! Worldwide Coronavirus deaths pass the three-million mark and more than 565,000 570,000 Americans have died from the virus. About 25% of the nation has now been fully vaccinated. Canada keeps its land borders closed another month. A flight from Delhi to Hong Kong becomes a superspreader event. Alaska will offer visitors vaccines starting June 1. The Maldive Islands are now open without testing or quarantine to anyone fully vaccinated. More than 8,000 passenger aircraft remain in storage. Hotel occupancy falls to mid-March levels. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for April 10-April 16

Read all about it! More than 560,000 565,000 Americans have died from the virus and more than 21% of the nation has been fully vaccinated. But new-case numbers are rising quickly. U.S. flying slows from the Easter rush. Several South American and Asian countries tighten Covid restrictions. Malta will pay tourists--in cash, not falcons--to visit this summer. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for April 3-April 9

Read all about it! More than 553,000 555,000 560,000 Americans have died from the virus and more than 155 160 165 170 175 million vaccine doses have been administered. New cases and deaths spike up despite increased vaccinations. April is off to a (literal) flying start and airline traffic is the busiest since mid-March of 2020. The CDC bungled messaging aimed at vaccinated travelers. Europe flying is still just 40% of normal. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for March 27-April 2

Read all about it! The CDC says fully vaccinated Americans can fly and travel again. More than 547,000 550,000 553,000 Americans have died from the virus. More than 135 140 145 150 154 million vaccine doses have been administered. U.S. flying roars back and was 52.5% of 2019 volume. American Airlines says bookings are 90% of 2019 levels and United says domestic leisure demand has almost returned to normal. European nations continue to lock down, however. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for March 20-26

Read all about it! More than 540,000 545,000 547,000 Americans have died from Coronavirus while 30 million people have been infected. More than 115 120 125 130 133 million vaccine doses have been administered. U.S. flying briefly hits nearly 70% of 2019 volume, but some travelers (and pilots) behave badly. Europe continues to lock down, but Germany reverses its draconian Easter shutdown. The U.S.-Canada land border remains closed another month. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for March 13-19

Read all about it! More than 532,000 535,000 540,000 Americans have died from the virus. More than 100 105 115 million doses of vaccine have been administered. Travel is roaring back in the United States as flying and hotel occupancy both hit post-pandemic highs. Starved for vaccines--and worried about the AstraZeneca version--Europe is doing less well. Italy, the first Western epicenter of the Coronavirus, locks down again. A late winter storm buries Denver International. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for March 6-12

Read all about it! More than 522,000 525,000 530,000 532,000 Americans have died from the virus. It's been a year since the outbreak was officially declared a pandemic. States continue to reopen business and dining venues, but many European countries move back to lockdown. March flying in the United States ticks up. The CDC says fully vaccinated people can mingle more freely--but shouldn't travel. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for February 27-March 5

Read all about it! More than 510,000 515,000 520,000 522,000 Americans have died from Coronavirus. Europe is locking down again but U.S. states rush to shed their mask mandates and other restrictions. February flying traffic roars to a close and early March looks good by comparison. Texas' weather woes led to a surge in hotel occupancy. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for February 20-26

Read all about it! More than 495,000 500,000 505,000 510,000 Americans have died from Coronavirus and new-case numbers are edging up again. Travel-industry numbers for 2020 were brutal and the first quarter looks even weaker. Italy marks a year after it became the Western epicenter of the disease. Boeing 777s powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000 engines grounded worldwide after Denver incident. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for February 13-19

Read all about it! More than 476,000 480,000 485,000 490,000 495,000 Americans have died, but the new-case number is slowly falling. There was a Valentine's Day/President's Day boomlet in flying. The government backs off plans to demand negative tests for domestic flights. Nasty winter storms snarl flying nationwide and basically ground Texas. Travel industry financial numbers remain startlingly bad. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for February 5-12

Read all about it! More than 452,000 455,000 460,000 465,000 465,000 475,000 Americans have died. The TSA sets fines for violating federal transportation mask mandates, but the states are again fighting over masking rules. Travel is in its February funk as the economic recovery stalls. There's little hope for an immediate rebound, either. Global hotel occupancy rates are atrocious. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for Jan. 30-Feb. 4

Read all about it! More than 435,000 440,000 445,000 450,000 452,000 Americans have died as we pass 26 million cases. California, South Carolina and Arizona are the riskiest states for Coronavirus transmission. Canada cracks down on snowbird flights and slaps testing requirements on all arrivals. The CDC codifies President Biden's executive order on masks for travel. Portugal, the epicenter of the current outbreak, closes the country's borders for two weeks. A winter storm in the Northeast disrupts the skeletal air system. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for January 23-29

Read all about it! More than 412,000 415,000 420,000 425,000 430,000 433,000 Americans have died as we pass the 25-million case mark. U.S. travel slumps as the traditional January downturn depresses flying. Israel again shuts down flights. Sweden and Finland bar their Nordic neighbors and European nations close their borders to many visitors. Airline fourth-quarter "earnings" are awful. Bricks-and-mortar retailers close shops by the hundreds. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for January 16-22

Read all about it! Global Coronavirus deaths pass the 2-million mark and near the 100-million case plateau. More than 390,000 395,000 400,000 405,000 410,000 412,000 have died in the United States as we near the 25-million case mark. The Biden Administration expects 100,000 additional deaths just in the next month. Flying sags in Europe as nations tighten lockdowns. The United States sees small Martin Luther King Weekend surge, then the January malaise. And much more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for January 9-15

Read all about it! Coronavirus cases globally surge and more than 367,000 370,000 375,000 380,000 385,000 390,000 have died in the United States. Flying is plunging after the New Year's rush. Airlines ban rowdy travelers flying back from last week's Capitol riots. Washington and the area's airports lock down ahead of next week's Inauguration. Travel numbers from 2020 continue to show the depth of the industry's crisis while current lockdowns force carriers to cut capacity again. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for January 1-8

The new year starts with more of the same: Coronavirus cases in the United States near 21 million and more than 345,000 350,000 355,000 360,000 365,000 367,000 have died. Canada and England make it even tougher to enter the country as other nations tighten Coronavirus restrictions. More travel shuts down. U.S. flying zigzags after a "huge" Christmas and New Year rush. Click here for the week's updates.

2020 Daily Coronavirus Updates

We began day-by-day tracking of the Coronavirus' effect on travel in late January last year. You can see everything we posted in bullet-point form, grouped into weekly segments, by clicking 2020's archives.