Read all about it! U.S. Covid deaths pass 612,000 and the vaccination rate remains below 50%. The United States says it will not loosen restrictions on visitors from Europe, China, Brazil and other countries while the CDC slaps a "do not travel" warning on several more nations. Hotels in locked-down Sydney, Australia, are less than 2% occupied. Florida is the epicenter of the Coronavirus and accounts for one in five new infections in the United States. England opens to vaccinated U.S. travelers without quarantine. Las Vegas, Reno and Washington impose indoor mask mandates. Transatlantic summer traffic collapses. And more. Read up from the bottom for context.

Coronavirus Update: Friday, July 30, 2021

As expected, President Biden on Thursday announced that all four million federal civilian employees must be vaccinated against Covid or submit to regular testing, mask requirements and other rules. The military was not covered in Biden's comments, but the Pentagon confirmed it will order vaccinations, too. Here are today's other developments:
        Stasis   The TSA says that 2,127,634 people passed through U.S. airport checkpoints Thursday. That is 77.6% of 2019 traffic. For the third straight day, the numbers are almost exactly the same as last week.
        The dreary now   There were 78,170 new Coronavirus cases in the United States Thursday, says Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 321.
        Washington masked   Masks will once again be required indoors in the District of Columbia. The rule returns tomorrow.
        Paradise lost   The Caribbean island of Martinique will start a new lockdown on Friday at 7pm. It will last for at least three weeks. There's also a 7pm to 5am curfew.
        Transatlantic turmoil   Between July and October of 2019, the transatlantic airline market generated more than $10 billion of revenue. This year, carriers are lucky to generate a tenth of that figure, according to OAG, the industry schedulekeeper.
        The most masked place on earth   Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida have reimposed a mask mandate for indoor spaces.
        Vaccinations on or off the menu   Danny Meyer, who controls the Shake Shack chain and fine-dining restaurants in New York and Washington, has come down hard on the side of vaccinations. All employees must be vaxxed. Moreover, patrons at sit-down restaurants must prove they are vaccinated. On the other side of the line, Chipotle says it will not require vaccinations of employees or customers.
        Third shot's the charm?   Israel became the first country in the world to approve a booster for the Coronavirus vaccine. It applies to citizens 60 and older. France 24 has the details.
        Empire state of mind   New York State has mandated vaccines for all employees or they will be required to test each week. The New York Post has the details.

Coronavirus Update: Thursday, July 29, 2021

Major League Baseball cancelled last night's game between the Washington Nationals and home team Philadelphia Phillies due to Coronavirus testing and contact tracing protocols. Here are today's other developments:
        Any given Wednesday   The TSA says that 1,923,980 people passed through U.S. airport checkpoints Wednesday. That is 75.7% of 2019 traffic. Both numbers are virtually identical to last Wednesday, July 21.
        Delta dawn   There were 68,771 new Coronavirus cases in the United States Wednesday, says Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 387. The Delta variant is causing almost all the new infections now--and almost all of the infected are unvaccinated.
        The 70% solution   Raleigh-Durham Airport says traffic in July is about 70% of 2019's volume.
        Face it and "get a vaccine"   Facebook is requiring its employees to be fully vaccinated before they return to the office, says Lori Goler, the company's top HR person.
        Kansas City blues   Kansas City is re-imposing a mask mandate for indoor public spaces. "I stuck with CDC guidance throughout the pandemic and today is no different," says Mayor Quinton Lucas.
        Boise blues   Boise, Idaho, issued a mask mandate inside its city buildings. The city's press release said it is working with "state and local health officials to quickly change or modify orders as needed."
        Especially for La Bohème ...   New York's Metropolitan Opera will require audiences and performers to be fully vaccinated. The Met said all customers, staff and members of its orchestra and chorus will need to show proof of vaccination against Covid-19 for performances during the 2021–22 season. BTW, the first performance of La Bohème is scheduled for November 9.

Coronavirus Update: Wednesday, July 28, 2021

The Biden Administration is expected to announce tomorrow that all federal employees and federal contractors will require a vaccine. Separately, the House of Representatives last night re-imposed its mask mandate for business conducted on the House floor. Some Republicans, led by Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, railed against the decision, made at the behest of the House's chief medical officer. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi responded by calling McCarthy a "moron." Here are today's other developments:
        Typical Tuesday   The TSA says that 1,858,328 people passed through U.S. airport checkpoints Tuesday. That is 76.2% of 2019 traffic and both numbers are virtually identical to last Tuesday, July 20.
        Running backward   There were 70,740 new Coronavirus cases in the United States Tuesday, says Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 462. Almost all of the new cases are of the highly contagious Delta variant, say health officials.
        No gambling on Delta   Twelve of Nevada's 17 counties, including Clark County and Las Vegas, will require masks for all people at indoor venues. Reno separately issued a mask mandate. Rules take effect on Friday. The casino industry immediately indicated it would comply. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has the details.
        Google "get a vaccine"   Google's global work-from-home program will continue until October 18. When employees do return to the office, however, they must be vaccinated, according to an E-mail from chief executive Sundar Pichai.
        England opens   Vaccinated visitors from the United States will be able to travel to England without a mandatory quarantine on arrival. Effective August 2, travelers need only test negative for Coronavirus before departure and test negative again two days after arrival. The details are here.
        Further down under   Sydney, Australia, has extended its citywide lockdown for another four weeks. Agence France-Presse has the details.
        More crowded skies   There were 166,538 flights in Europe's skies for the week ended July 25. According to Eurocontrol, which operates the continent's air traffic control, that's 68.1% of 2019 volume.

Coronavirus Update: Tuesday, July 27, 2021

With the CDC about to reverse itself on mask mandates, one state (California), one city (New York) and a federal agency (the Veterans Administration) yesterday mandated that all employees be vaccinated or undergo regular testing. Here are today's other developments:
        Just another manic Monday   The TSA says that 2,124,474 people passed through U.S. airport checkpoints on Monday. That is 81.3% of 2019 traffic, exactly the same as last Monday, July 19.
        Sliding backward   There were 89,418 new Coronavirus cases in the United States on Monday, says Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 271. But, sure, keep making believe this is over.
        Southwest's woes   Southwest Airlines' on-time performance in June was 62.4%, down from 75.1% in June, 2019. It's 67% so far in July, down from 80.3% in July, 2019. USA Today has some details.
        Golf and virus bureaucracy   An Associated Press golf reporter headed to Tokyo to cover the Olympic Games was caught in a Coronavirus bureaucracy. The result? About 72 hours of travel from the time he reached Tokyo's Haneda Airport to the time he finally reached the Olympics press center. The story is here.
        Don't go there   After slapping a "do not travel" warning on the United Kingdom last week, the CDC today applied the moniker to Israel, Spain, Portugal and several other nations. TheHill.com has the details.
        Hotel horrors   During the week ended July 18, hotel statisticians STR says the United Kingdom led Europe in average occupancy. Its rate of 63.5% bested Ireland (54.3%), Spain (53.7%), France (51.4%), Italy (51.1%) and Poland (50.1%). All those numbers trail 2019 results, of course, and Switzerland (44%) and The Netherlands (43.6%) were worse.

Coronavirus Update: Monday, July 26, 2021

The United States will not lift it restrictions on visitors from Europe, China and several other nations. Strictures date to Trump Administration moves in the first weeks of the pandemic last year and the Biden Administration says the Delta variant makes changes impossible. Reuters has the details. Here are today's other developments:
        A slower weekend   More than 6.2 million travelers passed through TSA airport checkpoints over the weekend (Friday-Sunday). That's more than a hundred thousand lower than last weekend.
        Difficult Sunday   There were 15,711 new Coronavirus cases in the United States on Sunday, says Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 56. One reminder: Weekend statistics are fragmentary and incomplete--and that is especially true now that many states have slowed their reporting.
        The Coronavirus state   Florida now accounts for one in five new Coronavirus infections in the United States and reported more than 73,000 cases in the past week. Its death toll last week (319) also "leads" the nation. The Wall Street Journal has the details.
        Air Canada   says its second-quarter revenue was down 82%. Its load factor was just 42%. The carrier says its daily cash burn was C$8 million.
        Sydney is empty   Hotels in Sydney, Australia, are running at less than 2% occupancy, according to tourism officials in New South Wales. The reason: Australia's ban on virtually all international travel and recent domestic lockdowns of Sydney and other major cities.
        Asia's agony   Southeast Asian nations are reporting record numbers of new cases. Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are especially hard hit. Reuters has the details.

Coronavirus Update: Weekend, July 24-25, 2021

Noted: The first reversal of travel privileges in Europe has happened. Latvia says the rising Coronavirus rates in the United States means our ability to freely visit the country has ended. Now only "essential" travel is permitted. Official Latvian sources have details. Here are this weekend's other developments:
        Friday freak-out   There were 118,791 new Coronavirus cases in the United States Friday, says Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 543. The numbers may be "artificially" inflated since Texas now only reports its details once a week and Johns Hopkins add them to Friday's national total.
        Return of the mask mandate   Both the city of St. Louis and the wider county of St. Louis have re-imposed a mask mandate for indoor public spaces. It applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. The new mandate goes into effect on Monday. TheHill.com has the details.
        Another tilt   A federal appeals court has reversed a ruling that requires cruise ships calling at or departing from Florida ports to check vaccination status. It's the latest skirmish between the CDC, which formulated rules for the cruise industry, and Florida, which legally bars businesses from asking about vaccine status. Reuters has the details.
        Hotel high   Average daily hotel occupancy reached 71% for the week ended July 17. STR, the industry statisticians, says that is the highest rate since October, 2019.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for July 17-July 23

Read all about it! The U.S. Covid death toll passes 610,000, but the vaccination rate slows and remains below 50%. Canada opens to fully vaccinated U.S. visitors next month, but the United States says land borders remain closed for at least another 30 days. American Airlines claims domestic business travel will return to 2019 norms next year. Many places advise wearing a mask in public and some reimpose nightly curfews. The Australia-New Zealand "travel bubble" collapses. The CDC and State Department slap "do not travel" warning on the United Kingdom. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for July 10-July 16

Read all about it! The U.S. death toll from Covid passes 608,000, but the vaccination rate has slowed and remains below 49%. United Airlines does not expect business travel to return until 2023. Malta bars unvaccinated travelers. France, the Netherlands and Los Angeles impose new virus restrictions. Ireland won't require quarantine for American visitors beginning July 19 and Aer Lingus celebrates with a $100 flight discount. London will maintain its mask mandate on public transportation. Who knew? "Gangnam Style" may spread Covid. And more. Click here for the week's updates.

Daily Coronavirus Updates for July 3-July 9

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. Click here for the week's updates.

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.