US air travel reaches new pandemic record

To travel this summer, will we need a health passport?

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(CNN) - 

More than 1.5 million passengers were screened at American airports on Sunday, a new record since the covid-19 pandemic began.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says it screened more than 1.62 million people at airports across the country on Sunday.

The new record is almost 10 times higher than the figure on the same day a year ago when the numbers fell as the pandemic stalled.

To meet what industry groups call “contained” travel demand, travelers are facing busier flights and airlines are pulling planes out of their holds.

• U.S. airline stocks rise in hopes of travel rebound

Delta Air Lines lifted its middle seat lock starting Saturday, the last major airline to keep such a pandemic policy in place.

American Airlines said last Friday that it would put all its saved planes back into operation because of the pandemic.

Sunday numbers are usually the highest for the week, but the numbers are still high overall.

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The TSA has logged more than a million exams daily for more than seven weeks in a row.

CDC Guide to Vaccine Travel

Vaccinated Americans May Travel to Europe 0:24

In early April, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published an update to its travel guide for people fully vaccinated against covid-19.

Those who are fully vaccinated can travel with little risk to themselves, the CDC says.

In the case of international travel, fully vaccinated people do not need a covid-19 test before traveling, unless the destination requires it.

They also do not need to self-quarantine upon their return to the US.

• 15 of the safest activities for those who are fully vaccinated, with and without masks

Unvaccinated people who must travel should be tested one to three days before the trip and again three to five days after the trip.

They must quarantine at home for seven days after the trip, or 10 days, if they don't get tested after the trip.

Travel warning

Learn about US restrictions on travel to India 1:31

At the end of last month, the US State Department included about 80% of the world's countries on its "Do Not Travel" list.

Countries on the continent such as Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Peru and Uruguay, among others, are at CDC alert level 4, which advises not to travel due to the pandemic.

Chile, El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago are at level 3 ("reconsider the trip") and only Belize is at level 2 ("exercise extra caution").

See here the complete list of Latin American countries to which the US State Department recommends not traveling due to covid-19.

With information from Pete Muntean.

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