More than 14 million Americans flew last year in the week leading up to Thanksgiving compared to less than 6 million this year, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
Local, state, and national officials have begged Americans to stay home this year to mitigate increasing COVID-19 numbers. In Indiana, the virus-related death count just exceeded 5,000, and an average of more than 6,000 Hoosiers test positive every day. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box recommended college students returning home wear a mask and quarantine for 14 days.
On Sunday, Nov. 22, more than 1 million Americans took to the skies — the most since the pandemic began. Only three times since March has the TSA recorded more than a million passengers in a single day.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against holiday travel and Thanksgiving gatherings, virtual celebrations are encouraged. Outdoor meals where guests social distance and bring their own food and drinks may also be an option.
Those who do choose to fly should remember their mask and expect to see signs encouraging social distancing along with increased cleaning in airports.
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