Thousands of flights were canceled or delayed over the holiday weekend as the omicron coronavirus variant rapidly spread.
Citing winter storms and the omicron coronavirus variant, airlines canceled about 8,000 flights globally over the weekend.
More than 2,400 additional flights were canceled on Monday, including about 880 U.S. flights, according to data published by the online flight tracking platform FlightAware.
Delta and JetBlue cited the variant in statements about their disrupted flight schedules. Both companies last week asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the recommended isolation or quarantine time for coronavirus cases. CDC guidance currently states that those who test positive for COVID-19 or experience symptoms should isolate for 10 days.
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The Delta CEO said that, given the spread of omicron, the guidance could “significantly impact our workforce and operations.”
The CDC last week said that health care workers with no symptoms or mild symptoms could leave isolation after seven days if they test negative. The agency said that “isolation time can be cut further if there are staffing shortages.”
Leading infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci told CNN on Monday that U.S. health officials are considering shortening the isolation period for more people beyond health care workers.
“The idea about cutting down the period of quarantine for people who’ve been exposed, and perhaps the period of isolation for people who have been infected, is something that is under, I would say, serious consideration,” Fauci said.
Fauci also added that he believes COVID-19 vaccine requirements for domestic flights should be considered.
He told ABC News’ “This Week” that “anything that could get people more vaccinated would be welcome.”