Christmas travel drops significantly due to coronavirus, but health experts still fear post-holiday spike

Christmas is here, and so are two coronavirus vaccines.

But public-health officials say it is still too soon to travel.

And judging by the spike in cases after Thanksgiving, they are worried about what this holiday could mean.

Despite the warnings from health officials, many Americans are still traveling and gathering for Christmas, though not nearly as many as there would have been had this been any year other than 2020.

But if you do choose to travel, there are some recommended precautions to take.

Holiday spread

Thanksgiving gave a dire warning of how easy coronavirus can spread, causing what health officials called a surge above the existing surge. It prompted fears of what December could bring as people gather for a month of holidays, capped off with Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Though there has been a dip in the rate of positive tests in the last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday there is still substantial spread of the coronavirus in all 67 counties.

The percentage of positive cases dropped to 15.8% in the week of Dec. 11-17, down from 16.2% the previous week.

“A decrease in percent positivity this week shows that we must continue to stay the course as we prevent the spread of this virus,” Wolf said in a statement.

Pennsylvania saw 7,962 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, one of the few times since Thanksgiving the daily the total has dropped below 8,000.

State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine also said this week that data over the coming days would shed more light on whether or not the state’s rate of infections is flattening or declining. She said it’s possible we have seen the worst of the post-Thanksgiving spike.

But concerns remain about another uptick after Christmas.

“We know that one of the best parts of the holiday season is spending time with those we love, but this year, we must rethink what that looks like,” Pennsylvania Department of Health press secretary Maggi Barton said in an email Tuesday. “This holiday season, we are urging people to celebrate with the people in their household and virtually connect with your loved ones. It is essential that we all follow the orders in place and do all we can to limit the spread of COVID-19 to protect our health system and our hospitals.”

Gatherings, big and small, can still be transmit the virus, she said.

“Every Pennsylvanian has a role to play,” Barton said. “The actions we take now will affect the impact of COVID-19 in our communities.”

But people are still planning to travel.

Travel by car

More than one-third of Americans plan to take a holiday road trip, GasBuddy.com is reporting.

“It’s been a nightmarish year for many due to the spread of COVID-19 and economic challenges that came with it, but many Americans have deeply rooted traditions for the holiday and are unwilling to let them slip away like the rest of the year,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a press release. “Ironically, due to the challenges 2020 has presented, gas prices have fallen and we project the national average to be $2.19 per gallon on Christmas Day, the second lowest in the last decade.”

While 34% of those surveyed are traveling, about 60% say COVID-19 has impacted their travel plans. Most are staying home, but 10% have switched their mode of transportation from plane or train to automobile.

According AAA, about 84.5 million Americans will travel between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3, most by car. That’s a decline in travel of at least 29% from 2019.

“While Thanksgiving is traditionally spent gathering with friends and family, the year-end holidays are when Americans often venture out for longer, more elaborate vacations. That will not be the case this year,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a press release. “Public health concerns, official guidance not to travel, and an overall decline in consumer sentiment have encouraged the vast majority of Americans to stay home for the holidays.”

According to AAA, automobile travel will be down 24.9% over last year.

For those who are traveling around the Harrisburg area, PennDOT District 8 press officer Dave Thompson said no construction activity is planned for Christmas Day. The lane restrictions that were put in place this week on Interstate 83 from the Union Deposit Road exit to the I-81 split have been lifted.

Travel by plane

At the Harrisburg International Airport, spokesman Scott Miller said travel from Dec. 22-28 is down 62% when compared to the same week in 2019.

It has been a rough year overall.

“2019 was the best year ever, while 2020 will be the worst year ever,” Miller said.

A strong economy, an increase in the number of flights and competitive rates made for a great 2019 at HIA, but that all dropped off due to the coronavirus, he said.

For the entire year, he expects travel to and from HIA to be down 58% compared to 2019.

The vaccines give some hope to the airline industry that people will start flying again in 2021, but it won’t be an overnight turnaround.

“There are so many more factors involved to get people flying again,” he said. “New cases need to go down, travel-related restrictions and advisories need to be removed, businesses need to reopen, business travelers need to fly again as airline reservations need to be made. The airline industry is much smaller now and the competition between cities for fewer airplanes is going up. Many cities have lost service and it won’t all come back.”

Wild weather for the holidays

If you are traveling, some potentially hazardous weather is expected in central Pennsylvania over next few days.

According to the National Weather Service at State College, warming temperatures with 1.5 to 3 inches of rain and 1 to 3 inches of snow melt can be expected, prompting a flood watch for noon Thursday through noon Friday.

Wind gusts of 40 mph are in store, as well.

In the overnight hours Christmas Eve into Christmas morning, plummeting temperatures can create flash freezing and icy road conditions.

This will be followed by single-digit to below-zero wind chills Friday and Saturday.

Precautions

If you do choose to travel, AAA has some recommendations.

AAA recommends planning ahead. Check with state and local officials along the route to your destination and be aware of any restrictions that may be in place. AAA has an online COVID-19 travel restrictions map that can help you plan.

Also, know what is expected of you when you return home. Many localities require COVID-19 testing prior to and after traveling.

Follow public health guidance, AAA recommends. This includes wearing face masks, social distancing and hand washing, as has been recommended throughout the pandemic. Before you set out on a road trip, but sure to bring hand sanitizer, extra masks, a thermometer and disinfecting wipes.

And, AAA recommends checking with your hotels, rental car services and the like to avoid any last-minute surprises.

While PennDOT officials note that the CDC says staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others, they do have some general travel tips.

“PennDOT is advising those who do travel to drive with care during the holiday season,” Thompson said. “Buckle up, put the phone down, don’t drink and drive, obey posted speed limits, and in the spirit of the holiday, be patient and courteous with other motorists.”

___

(c)2020 The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, Pa.)

Visit The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, Pa.) at www.pennlive.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.