Air travel exceeded 1 million daily passengers in the United States during the weekend before Christmas, TSA reported, breaking the record for the highest number of weekend travelers since the pandemic hit the country in March.
Although daily numbers remain less than half of the travelers tracked last year, according to The Washington Post, the 3.2 million passengers traveling on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays surpassed Thanksgiving travel numbers and mark the only time during the pandemic in which more than 1 million passengers boarded planes three days in a row. The number of passengers fell just under 1 million on Monday and Tuesday.
Health officials have warned Americans to stay home during this holiday season and to keep holiday celebrations small. The CDC encouraged virtual meetings and for families to celebrate with people in their own homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
But the numbers show that many are not discouraged by the pandemic. The CDC asked those traveling to purchase COVID-19 tests before and after, but the tests are not mandatory.
The death toll could reach 450,000 in February, warned the CDC earlier this month.
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