New strain of COVID-19 spreads closer to US, many people continue to travel

The new, fast-moving strain of the coronavirus has spread closer to the United States.

According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., four cases have been identified in Canada, including British Columbia.

This comes as a new order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention went into effect Sunday, requiring anyone flying into the U.S. from the United Kingdom to show proof of a negative test for COVID-19. That test would need to be completed within 72 hours before their flight.

In the state of Washington, there is a 14-day quarantine requirement for people traveling from the U.K.

The procedures are all in response to the new variant strain of the coronavirus.

Although the fast-moving variant strain is spreading, KIRO 7 saw people taking to the skies on Sunday. Many were part of the millions traveling for the holiday weekend, despite federal health officials who recommended that people should stay home.

At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Sunday, there were numerous passengers at the baggage claim, which appears to show that people are getting comfortable with flying again.

“It’s pretty much the same every time. Just masks are the only difference, but it’s pretty much the same thing,” said traveler Michael Alfonso.

“It’s fabulous. I’ve flown a couple of times and it’s probably one of the safest places I feel,” said Pam Roach, another traveler.

In the last day alone, 1.1 million people passed through U.S. airports, giving federal health officials reasons to worry.

“When people get to the destination they want to be, you’re going to have mixing of household people at a dinner or at a social function, those are things that naturally happen. And as much as we advise against it, nonetheless it happens,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said on CNN.

With factors such as more people returning to travel and the new strain of the virus, it does not appear things are going to get any easier.

Fauci said factors like those would likely lead to a grim start of 2021. “I share the concern of President-elect Biden that as we get into the next few weeks, it might actually get worse.”

However, at the airport Sunday, there were no regrets from passengers. “I love it that they make it mandatory that everybody has to wear a mask, so I feel that it’s very, very safe,” Roach said.

According to federal transportation officials, 85 million people have traveled at some point during the holiday season.

Cox Media Group