Millions Expected to Travel Over Thanksgiving Holiday

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Millions of Americans are expected to travel in the next few days over the Thanksgiving Holiday, marking the busiest point in air travel since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

โ€œAs long as we got tested and are still feeling well, we are going to meet,โ€ said Robert Ubilla, who is traveling to Florida to see a small group of family.  

Both DFW Airport and Dallas Love Field say they expect elevated passenger traffic in days to come. At both airports, social distancing and sanitization remain a priority.

โ€œYou will see different crews out constantly cleaning,โ€ said Ken Buchanan, an executive vice president at DFW. โ€œYou will see stickers on the floors suggesting line spacing and social distancing at times that may appear to be somewhat of a line forming.โ€

At Dallas Love Field, airport officials say lines may appear longer than they actually are due to social distancing efforts in both ticketing and TSA lines.

โ€œWe may have a line that is spilling out of the checkpoint because we have made the queue in a way to avoid people standing in the lane next to them,โ€ said Chris Perry with Dallas Love Field.

How to Avoid COVID-19 Infection:

The best way to prevent infection is to take precautions to avoid exposure to this virus, which are similar to the precautions you take to avoid the flu. CDC always recommends these everyday actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

*Information shared from the Office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged Americans not to travel over the Thanksgiving Holiday.

โ€œWe werenโ€™t going to do that (travel to see family). No one felt comfortable doing that,โ€ said Melody Morgan, who along with her husband John, canceled plans to gather with family.

The Morgans have decided instead of a traditional gathering they would travel to Mexico alone, thus limiting their exposure to other members of the family.

โ€œI do feel comfortable being on the beach for Thanksgiving,โ€ said Melody Morgan.


*Map locations are approximate, central locations for the city and are not meant to indicate where actual infected people live.


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