Current Events in December 2020

With the initial doses of COVID-19 vaccines being administered and additional vaccines getting the green light, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) says that employers have the right to require workers to be immunized before they return to the workplace.

The wherewithal to mandate a required vaccination is part of new guidance from the EEOC called “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws.” In that guidance, the agency said that employers are required to ensure that the workplace is safe to the point where "an individual shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of individuals in the workplace." 

The EEOC suggests employers use a four-factor approach in determining whether a direct threat exists:

1. The duration of the risk;

2. The nature and severity of the potential harm; 

3. The likelihood that the potential harm will occur; and 

4. The imminence of the potential harm.  

The ifs, ands, or buts

Government guidance usually comes with a hefty supply of caveats, and the EEOC’s latest direction has its fair share. Here are some of the highlights you should be aware of.

Are there exemptions on who has to be vaccinated? In the agency’s point of view, not all employees have to get vaccinated. Employees exempted from the requirement include someone who has a "sincerely held" religious belief, practice, or observance that prevents them from getting inoculated, as well as someone with a disability.

When it comes to workers with a disability, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) puts limitations on an employer's ability to require employees to get a medical exam. However, the EEOC says that getting vaccinated is not the same as getting a medical exam and, therefore, requiring employees to get a COVID-19 shot does not, in its estimation, violate the ADA.

Can an employee request accommodations? The answer is “yes” if the request is “reasonable,” says the EEOC. It also says that an employer has the discretion to choose an effective accommodation as long as it doesn’t result in undue hardship. An example of a “reasonable” request would be allowing a worker to telework. 

According to Helen Rella, a workplace attorney at Wilk Auslander, the big “however” as it refers to accommodations is this: "If no possible accommodation can be made and the employee's job requires that they be in the physical workplace -- and they pose a direct threat to the safety of the workplace or others -- that yes, they could be terminated," Rella said in comments to CBS News. 

Can an employee be fired for refusing to be vaccinated? Here the answer is “no.” In the EEOC’s words, “If there is a direct threat that cannot be reduced to an acceptable level, the employer can exclude the employee from physically entering the workplace, but this does not mean the employer may automatically terminate the worker.”

The sticky part of that judgment is that an employer still needs to determine if any other rights apply under the EEO laws or other federal, state, and local authorities. “For example, if an employer excludes an employee based on an inability to accommodate a request to be exempt from a vaccination requirement, the employee may be entitled to accommodations such as performing the current position remotely,” the agency said.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 17,269,542 (17,011,532)

Total U.S. deaths: 311,230 (308,098)

Total global cases: 75,179,482 (74,467,555)

Total global deaths: 1,668,030 (1,654,461 )

Moderna’s vaccine gets a green light

A committee advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the Moderna coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine voted late Thursday to recommend emergency use authorization (EUA) for the vaccine. That’s expected to be granted within hours.

In a statement, the FDA said it would act quickly to grant the EUA, perhaps as early as today, sending millions of additional doses of the vaccine into the system. Since last weekend, health care workers and nursing home residents have been getting the vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech, which received EUA a week ago.

According to U.S. health officials, there are about six million doses in the initial delivery of the Moderna vaccine. Once the EUA is in force, the vaccine will head for distribution points around the country.

U.S. deaths top 3,000 again

While the vaccines provide hope for an end to the pandemic, the grim fact is that people continue to get infected and die in ever-greater numbers. The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 exceeded 3,000 Thursday for the third straight day, according to the COVID-19 Tracking Project at Johns Hopkins University.

Health officials are increasingly worried that the rising number of new cases will swamp hospitals across the country. The number of people admitted to U.S. hospitals continues to set records, moving higher over each of the last 20 days. A Reuters analysis shows that hospitalizations approached 114,000 on Thursday.

"We expect to have more dead bodies than we have spaces for them," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told reporters.

Drug store chains to serve nursing homes

When the coronavirus vaccine is available to the general public, retail drug stores will be a big part of the network. But two chains, CVS and Walgreens, are stepping up immediately to get the vaccine to some people who are at the head of the line -- elderly residents in long-term care facilities.

Walgreens says it is administering the shots starting today at nursing homes in Ohio and Connecticut. Eventually, it plans to serve 35,000 facilities as the program expands across the country.

CVS says its pharmacists will also visit facilities to administer the vaccine. The company says more than 40,000 facilities have enlisted CVS Pharmacy as their provider.

‘Long haulers’ still struggle after recovering

“Long haulers,” people who were infected with the virus early in the pandemic but still are affected by symptoms, are continuing to struggle as 2020 comes to a close. 

Emily Ringering of Denver came down with the virus in March but recovered after a week or so -- or at least that’s what she thought. Nine months later, she says some of the symptoms are still around.

“I feel like I have aged 20 years,” she told Denver TV station KCNC. “I had a couple months there where I felt good. Then stuff started coming back. In late August, stuff started coming back where I was having memory issues, bad fatigue, joint pain, I was getting winded.”

Research ‘strongly suggests’ the virus can enter the brain

Scientists publishing their findings in the journal Nature Neuroscience have found that the spike protein in the coronavirus, often depicted as the red arms of the virus, can cross the blood-brain barrier in mice. It could explain why some patients suffer memory issues.

Among researchers, the intense inflammation caused by the COVID-19 infection is called a cytokine storm. The immune system, upon seeing the virus and its proteins, overreacts in its attempt to kill the invading pathogen. The infected person can be left with brain fog, fatigue, and other cognitive issues.

The scientists say they saw a similar reaction when they were studying the HIV virus, concluding that both viruses have that effect.

Around the nation

• Illinois: There’s finally a little good news for state health officials: The positivity rate for COVID-19 tests continues to decline. The state health department reported 8,828 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, as well as 181 additional coronavirus deaths on Thursday.

• Arizona: Gov. Doug Ducey has resisted a return to business closures and stay-home orders, but pressure is growing as the number of cases in the state rises. This week, state health officials say half of Arizona’s counties are seeing a “substantial” spread of the virus.

• Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott says Texans will see ample supplies of the coronavirus vaccine, beyond doses intended for high-risk groups, within a couple of months. “There will be multiple vaccines available to us by the time we get to March, and we’ll be providing far more doses of vaccines than what we currently have,” he said.

It comes as no surprise that there are a plethora of scams rolling out as COVID-19 vaccines begin to be distributed and administered, and all of them are meant to sow confusion and fleece consumers.

Because of the intricacies involved with these vaccines, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning Americans that scammers are working the gray areas to snare people unacquainted with all the particulars.

Five things to keep in mind

In the FTC’s mind, there are five things someone should keep in mind regarding the vaccine:

The vaccine is supposed to be free. It’s not “likely” that anyone will need to pay anything out of pocket to get the vaccine during this public health emergency, the FTC says.

You don’t have to pay to be put on a list. There’s no list at the doctor’s, a drugstore, or anywhere else where you can pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine. However, there is a pecking order. 

“For most people living in the U.S., states and territories will make the final decisions on who will get the vaccines and when. States are also working on their own specific vaccination plans,” writes Colleen Tressler, a member of the FTC’s Division of Consumer and Business Education. 

Tressler suggests checking with individual state governments for specific information regarding distribution plans in that state. 

You can’t pay to get early access to the vaccine. Again, a $50 handshake is not going to get you anywhere any faster when it comes to the vaccine.

Don’t give out your private information to anyone. “No one from a vaccine distribution site or health care payer, like a private insurance company, will call you asking for your Social Security number or your credit card or bank account information to sign you up to get the vaccine,” Tressler says. If you get one of those calls, simply hang up.

Be on the lookout for snake oil! Scammers tried the “miracle cure” route earlier in the pandemic’s life, and they’re back again. The FTC says to pay particular attention to anyone who offers other products, treatments, or medicines to prevent the virus. Before you even think about paying for or receiving any COVID-19-related treatment, you should check with your health care provider first.

The bottom line is this: If you get a call, text, email, or someone shows up at your front door saying they can get you early access to the vaccine, stop right there because you’re about to be scammed.

Instead, the FTC would like you to report what happened to its ReportFraud.ftc.gov website or file a complaint with your state or territory attorney general through consumerresources.org, the consumer website of the National Association of Attorneys General.

An advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted unanimously, with one abstention, to recommend emergency use authorization (EUA) for Moderna’s coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

The FDA said it would act quickly to grant the EUA, perhaps as early as today, sending millions of additional doses of vaccine into the system. Since last weekend, health care workers and nursing home residents have been getting the vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech, which received EUA a week ago.

Assuming the FDA acts immediately, the Moderna vaccine could begin distribution around the country this weekend.

Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) say there are about six million doses in the initial delivery of the Moderna vaccine. They say it could begin to find its way into Americans’ arms in a little more than 24 hours after the FDA acts.

Less controversial

The advisory committee, made up of top health care professionals from around the country, recommended the vaccine for people who are at least 18 years old. The Pfizer vaccine was approved for people as young as 16, which was more controversial with some panel members.

The age difference in the use of the Moderna vaccine reportedly made the decision much easier and led to a faster recommendation. Panel member Dr. Steven Pergam, an infectious disease specialist with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, said the growing pandemic required fast action, adding that there is “no doubt in my mind that it looks like the benefits outweigh the risks.”

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are similar, made with genetic material from the coronavirus but not from the virus itself. Both are said to have mild side effects, such as fatigue, headaches, and sometimes flu-like symptoms for up to four days following the second shot.

The two vaccines are also similar in that clinical trials showed them to be at least 94 percent effective in preventing the virus. Between the two vaccines, officials say there are enough doses to inoculate 20 million Americans with the initial batches.

Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama will be allowed to vote soon on whether to unionize. If workers at the facility vote to form a union, it would be the first one at any of the company’s warehouses in the U.S. 

The National Labor Relations Board recently ruled that workers at the Bessemer, Alabama Amazon warehouse could move forward with their intent to hold an election that could unionize around 1,500 full and part-time warehouse workers.

“We are administratively satisfied that the [union] has a sufficient showing of interest to move forward,” Terry D. Combs, assistant to the regional director of the NLRB’s Atlanta region.

The NLRB is set to hold a hearing on Friday to determine how and when to hold the unionization vote. 

Amazon pushing back

Amazon previously expressed opposition to unionization efforts, and it has largely been successful in other cases. In a statement about the current effort, the company said those who petitioned to hold the vote didn’t represent "the majority of our employees' views.” It also touted its competitive wages and benefits.

“On top of Amazon’s industry-leading minimum $15 per hour wage, the company offers full-time employees comprehensive benefits including full medical, vision, and dental insurance as well as a 401(k) with 50 percent match starting on day one,” the company said. 

“Amazon prioritizes the safety and health of its employees and has invested millions of dollars to provide a safe workplace. The company also offers up to 20 weeks of maternal and parental paid leave and innovative benefits such as Leave Share and Ramp Back, which give new parents flexibility to support their growing families.”

Workers cite problematic conditions

The last time Amazon workers were close to joining a union happened in 2014, when a small group of workers voted 21 to 6 against having the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represent them.

The Alabama workers have said the company’s safety measures are insufficient and workers are often saddled with work quotas that are difficult to meet. 

"Nineteen workers have died at Amazon facilities. We face outrageous work quotas that have left many with illnesses and lifetime injuries," the group says. "With a union contract, we can form a worker safety committee, and negotiate the highest safety standards and protocols for our workplace."

In a blog post on Thursday, Microsoft said it identified more than 40 organizations that were targeted by attackers using “sophisticated measures.”

Most victims of the attack (80 percent) were located in the U.S. The other targeted groups were spread across seven other countries: Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Spain, the U.K., Israel, and the United Arab Emirates. Microsoft said it has started working with the groups identified as victims. 

Those affected were running problematic versions of a third-party software platform called SolarWinds Orion. Hackers were able to escalate intrusions with additional, second-stage payloads. Microsoft said it discovered the intrusions using data from its Microsoft Defender antivirus product, which is built into all Windows installations.

"It's a certainty that the number and location of victims will keep growing," said Microsoft President Brad Smith. 

Microsoft targeted

Microsoft itself was among those targeted by hackers, but the company denied claims that its production systems were compromised or that the attack affected its business customers and end-users. 

"Like other SolarWinds customers, we have been actively looking for indicators of this actor and can confirm that we detected malicious Solar Winds binaries in our environment, which we isolated and removed," the statement said.

Microsoft said the attack “represents a broad and successful espionage-based assault on both the confidential information of the U.S. Government and the tech tools used by firms to protect them.” 

The company said the attack is being “actively investigated and addressed by cybersecurity teams in the public and private sectors, including Microsoft." Smith said it’s become clear that stronger international rules are needed to help prevent future attacks of this magnitude. 

“The defense of democracy requires that governments and technology companies work together in new and important ways – to share information, strengthen defenses and respond to attacks,” he wrote. “As we put 2020 behind us, the new year provides a new opportunity to move forward on all these fronts.” 

Prices at the pump have made their largest one-week advance since before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic drastically reduced demand.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $2.21 a gallon, five cents a gallon more than last Friday. The price has risen eight cents over the last four weeks. The average price of premium gas is $2.81 a gallon, also five cents higher than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $2.50, an increase of four cents a gallon over the last week.

Though gasoline demand has been rising lately, the one-week jump in prices may have more to do with the price of crude oil, which has been rising on speculation that the economy will bounce back once a vaccine is widespread. 

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is approaching the $50 per barrel mark, a price it hasn’t seen since the beginning of the pandemic. Although energy demand is rising slightly, it is nowhere near what it was before the virus shut down much of the world economy.

In the last week, Western states that have the nation’s highest gas prices saw very little price movement. The price hike was largely driven by Southeastern states, where prices are lowest. Many of these states saw their statewide average rise by five cents a gallon.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• Hawaii ($3.27)

• California ($3.18)

• Washington ($2.75)

• Oregon ($2.58)

• Nevada ($2.57)

• Pennsylvania ($2.52)

• Alaska ($2.50)

• Maryland ($2.35)

• New Jersey ($2.32)

• Idaho ($2.24)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($1.87)

• Missouri ($1.89)

• Louisiana ($1.91)

• Texas ($1.91)

• Oklahoma ($1.92)

• Arkansas ($1.92)

• Alabama ($1.95)

• Tennessee ($1.95)

• South Carolina ($1.97)

• Kansas ($1.99)

General Motors is recalling 94 model year 2021 Chevrolet Suburbans & Tahoes, and GMC Yukons & Yukon XLs.

During assembly, a repair involved removal of one or both front seats. The attachment bolts for the front seats may not have been properly reinstalled after the repair was completed.

If an occupied front seat has loose or missing attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts -- as needed -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin December 29, 2020.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020, and GMC customer service at (888) 988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202312720.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 161 model year 2020-2021 Toyota Avalons, model year 2020 Avalon Hybrids, RAV4s and RAV4 Hybrids.

Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's airbag in a crash.

An air bag that does not deploy as designed can increase the risk of injury.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin January 18, 2021.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.

American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 210,000 model year 2013-2015 Acura ILXs, model year 2013 Acura ILX Hybrids, model year 2012 Honda Civic Hybrids, model year 2007-2008 Honda Fits with a manual transmission and model year 2009-2014 Honda Fits originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The drive shafts' protective coating may not have been applied properly during manufacturing, making it more susceptible to damage from road salt, or other contaminants, and potentially causing it to break.

A broken drive shaft may cause a sudden loss of drive power. The vehicle could also roll away if the parking brake has not been applied before the vehicle has been exited. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

What to do

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shafts, replacing either the left or right drive shaft -- if necessary -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin February 1, 2021.

Owners may contact Honda customer service at (888) 234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E9B and A9A.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 17,011,532 (16,751,562)

Total U.S. deaths: 308,098 (304,589)

Total global cases:  74,467,555 (73,696,995)

Total global deaths: 1,654,461 (1,640,867)

FDA expected to approve Moderna vaccine

There are still steps that have to be followed, but health officials say there is little doubt that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will grant conditional approval of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine developed by Moderna, likely by the end of the week.

The FDA’s review committee is expected to flash the green light later today, and the emergency use authorization (EAU) could come on Friday. It would then join the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech, which is now being rolled out across the country.

The two vaccines are both messenger RNA (mRNA) type vaccines, and both showed better than 94 percent effectiveness in clinical trials.

More people head for the unemployment line

For the second straight week, more Americans applied for unemployment benefits. The Labor Department reported today that new claims for jobless benefits totaled 885,000 last week -- 23,000 more than applied the week before.

The numbers suggest that the economy has begun to lose momentum as cases of COVID-19 remain high across the nation, forcing many businesses to close again. In recent days, a number of restaurants announced that they are closing for good in the absence of aid.

Economists say the next few weeks could be especially grim. They say hiring is likely to remain weak until vaccines against the virus have been widely administered.

About that aid…

Congress has been talking -- actually debating -- about providing another shot of stimulus to the U.S. economy before the end of the year, but lawmakers haven’t yet been able to pull it off. With time running out, both Republicans and Democrats think they’re getting close.

“We’re still close and we’re going to get there,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-Ky.) told reporters. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) agrees but says “it’s not a done deal yet.”

The contents of the relief package also remain in flux. NBC News reports that the current bill would provide direct payments to Americans in some amount, with about $300 billion for small businesses.

FDA approves another new test

The FDA has issued a new emergency use authorization (EUA) for the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test, which is authorized for use by patients at home with a prescription. On Tuesday, it also gave EUA to an over-the-counter (OTC) home test.

The BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test is authorized for prescription use at home with self-collected nasal swab samples from individuals ages 15 years or older who are suspected of COVID-19 by their doctor. The test needs to be taken within seven days of symptoms.

"FDA continues to authorize COVID-19 tests that will give more Americans access to greater testing flexibility and options," said FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn. "The BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Home Test will have a significant manufacturing footprint with the potential to support testing for millions of people."

Researcher: Quarantine weight gain may be a myth

Many Americans feel like they’ve put on weight since the pandemic began and are blaming the quarantine that is keeping them out of the gym and at home. But what’s the reality?

A researcher at Florida State University studied college students and broke down their weight into five different categories. She found that most thought they had gained weight, even when they didn’t.

“We found that one in 50 participants had a change in body mass that would change their weight category, about 2 percent of people,” said Prof. Pamela Keel. “But 10 percent -- five times as many people -- described their weight as higher. Some people lost weight, a very few gained, but the vast majority stayed the same.”

Around the nation

• South Dakota: According to a Washington Post analysis, South Dakota ranks 47 out of 50 states in the number of new tests reported in the last seven days per 100,000 residents. The state has completed 1,313 total tests per 100,000 people for the past seven days. 

• Louisiana: The state has ordered bars to close, but there are exceptions. Drinking establishments in New Orleans have been allowed to remain open for indoor service. That makes Orleans Parish the only parish in Louisiana that can keep bars open for indoor service, as based on state guidelines.

• Nevada: A church in Las Vegas plans to host nearly 200 people at its services this week thanks to a court ruling that overturned limits allowed in church buildings. “This is a victory for churches in Nevada,” said the Rev. Jimmy Morales, senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Lone Mountain. 

The majority of pregnant women with COVID-19 don’t display any symptoms associated with the virus, according to a study carried out by Mount Sinai researchers. 

For the study, researchers analyzed data from a coronavirus screening program in the labor and delivery unit of Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York during March and April. The team found that more than one-third of almost 130 pregnant women tested positive for the novel coronavirus. 

However, most of the pregnant patients with COVID-19 -- 72 percent -- were asymptomatic. The study found that pregnant patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were more likely to identify as Hispanic. 

The study authors noted that the proportion of patients who tested positive for the virus was much higher than in other hospitals in New York City. That finding was likely tied to the fact that a large percentage of patients served by Elmhurst are victims of social inequities, a group severely affected by the pandemic in the spring. 

Asymptomatic spread concerns

The study findings add to other evidence that the early stages of the pandemic were marked by asymptomatic spread. During the time window analyzed, hospitals were mainly testing symptomatic individuals. The researchers said the study results could help inform efforts to “refine pandemic preparedness.” 

“This study is instructive for other labour and delivery units and hospitals across the world as we continue to refine pandemic preparedness,” researcher Dr. Sheela Maru, an assistant professor of global health, and obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, said in a statement. 

“In future epidemics, it may be prudent to look at labor and delivery screening numbers much earlier on, as pregnant women continue to seek essential care despite social distancing measures and also represent the generally young and healthy community population,” Maru said. 

The full study has been published in PLOS One. 

United Airlines and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have put a plan into place to launch what the airline calls “the airline industry's most comprehensive contact information collection program for public health follow-up and contact tracing.”

The initiative is very straightforward: During a United passenger’s check-in procedure, they will be given the option to voluntarily provide their contact information (email, phone number, and the address they’re traveling to) -- details that the CDC previously had difficulty obtaining in real-time. Travelers can opt in and participate via United's mobile app, at united.com, or at the airport.

"Contact tracing is a fundamental component of the nation's public health response strategy for controlling the spread of communicable diseases of public health concern," said CDC Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield. "Collection of contact information from air travelers will greatly improve the timeliness and completeness of information for COVID-19 public health follow-up and contact tracing."

United’s idea follows Delta’s contact tracing program announced on December 3 for international travelers returning to the U.S.

The phased-in approach

This initiative won’t start everywhere at once. The program will roll out in phases beginning this week with the voluntary collection of information for all international arrivals. In the weeks ahead, the airline will phase in domestic and international outbound departures. 

"Initiatives like testing and contact tracing will play a significant role in slowing the spread of COVID-19 until a vaccine is widely available," said United's Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist. "United continues to take a leadership role in both areas and is proud to support the CDC by doing our part to help them safeguard public health and safety."

Travel industry finally gets what it’s been begging for

Travel industry groups have been begging the Trump administration for months to produce a COVID-19 testing plan that would eliminate the patchwork of confusing state-to-state quarantines and travel bans while giving the re-opening of travel a fighting chance.

The American Society of Travel Advisors, Airlines for America, Travelers United, U.S. Travel Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, along with 15 others, wrote a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, and Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf asking for a unified national plan way back in October.  

The groups were very direct about the value of contact tracing, saying the government should “eliminate the need for blanket restrictions and traveler quarantines by implementing comprehensive, cost-effective pre-departure testing procedures and contact tracing protocols … that are medically-based, affordable, dependable, scalable, privacy-oriented, and fit into the passenger journey with as little disruption as possible.”