Health officials concerned about post-spring break surge in COVID-19 cases

Millions of people are expected to fly this week after pandemic air travel set records this weekend as many headed to warm locations for spring break.

Between vaccines and pandemic protocols, some health officials have been saying we’re making progress in slowing the spread of coronavirus.

But though the number of infections is falling, there are worries of a post-spring break surge in the number of cases.

The Centers for Disease Control has said to avoid travel and some schools are scaling back spring break or cancelling it entirely, but that hasn’t stopped people from taking part in beachfront parties.

About 100 people were arrested as spring break crowds gathered in Florida’s Miami Beach over the weekend, CNN reported.

Officials say the the B.1.1.7 strain, which is rampant in the state, is up to 74% more contagious than the original novel coronavirus. That means anyone who gets infected there could spread the virus when they return to their home state or college. Currently, Florida is leading the nation in infections from the U.K. variant.

Spring break in Texas comes as the state relaxed restrictions, including the wearing of masks.

And more people are expected to travel.

President Biden has said if infection numbers continue to go down and people get vaccinated, we could see some semblance of normality by July 4. Health officials are trying to convince people to stay the course so pandemic measures can be relaxed.

“If we continue to vaccinate people, get more and more protection without all of a sudden pulling back on public health measures. We will do that. We will gradually be able to pull them back,” Chief Medical Advisor to the President Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

More than 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses are being administered every day in the U.S., with 107 million doses given overall so far. More than 37 million Americans are considered fully vaccinated. That’s 11% of the total U.S. population.

Cox Media Group