Politics
CDC begs Spring Breakers NOT to travel amid Covid surge fears as TSA screens pandemic-high of 1.3m passengers in one day
HEALTH officials on Monday urged people to stay home for Spring Break as airport screenings hit a record daily high since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
During a press conference on Monday, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr Rochelle Walensky pointed to photos of thousands of people at beaches drinking and not social distancing or wearing masks.
More than 150 people were arrested in Miami amid Spring Break festivities[/caption]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr Rochelle Walensky[/caption]
“We have seen footage enjoying spring break festivities mask-less,” Walensky said.
“This is all in the context of, still, 50,000 cases per day.”
Covid-19 cases and deaths have plateaued at around 54,000 and 1,400, respectively, she said.
“I’m pleading with you, for the sake of our nation’s health,” Walensky said.
“Cases climbed last spring, they climbed again in the summer, they will climb now if we stop taking precautions when we continue to get more and more people vaccinated.”
Walensky added that the US could experience a spike in cases as states loosen their coronavirus restrictions and face mask orders.
“With the coming warmer weather, I know it’s tempting to want to relax and to let our guard down, particularly after a hard winter that sadly saw the highest level of cases and deaths during the pandemic so far,” she said.
On Sunday, the TSA screened 1,327,289 people across the country, which is the highest number since the pandemic began, according to The Daily Mail.
The TSA screened more than 1.3million people on Sunday, the highest figure since the start of the pandemic[/caption]
It was the eighth day in the last 12 with the screening figure surpassing 1million.
In Miami, more than 150 revelers were arrested over Spring Break weekend for partying in the city.
The South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach saw 120 arrests, with police officers seizing guns, drugs and money.
After partying during the day, some revelers in the evening threw bottles at cops, who responded with pepper spray.
Sunday was the eighth day of the last 12 with the daily TSA screening figure surpassing 1million[/caption]
Violence broke out at Ocean Drive and 8th Street, resulting in two officers getting injured.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said the city was “seeing too much spring break activity.”
“We’ve got a problem with too many people coming here,” Gelber said.
“We’ve got a problem with too many people coming here to let loose.”
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Matthew Wellington, a public health campaigns director for the US Public Interest Research Group, said there is “definitely a concern” around spring break revelers.
“Spring breakers who are traveling to Florida might bring home more than just the souvenir shot glass this year,” Wellington told The Orlando Sentinel.
“We know this virus thrives on people traveling.”
