[Epoch Times, December 26, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Li Yan comprehensive report) Omicron variant strains have promoted a new wave of epidemics worldwide, and new cases have surged ahead of schedule, directly impacting holiday air travel capacity. During the Christmas period, approximately 5,700 flights around the world were cancelled.
According to the latest epidemic figures from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, on December 23 (Thursday), there were 983,304 new cases of COVID-19 (the disease caused by the Chinese Communist virus) worldwide, the largest single day since the pandemic. Increase.
According to statistics from Agence France-Presse, when the Omicron variant spreads at a high speed, in the week ending December 23, the global average number of new diagnoses in a single day increased by 18% to more than 749,000 cases. This is the 10th consecutive week that it has shown an upward trend.
Omicron brought a surge in cases, which directly impacted aviation capacity, and the number of airlines asking for leave surged. According to FlightAware, approximately 5,700 flights have been cancelled during the Christmas weekend worldwide. This includes approximately 1,700 domestic and inbound flights within the United States. United Airlines and Delta Airlines cancel hundreds of flights.
“The surge in Omicron cases across the country this week has a direct impact on our pilots and operations personnel.” United said in a statement to several news organizations. “As a result, we had to cancel some flights. , And notify affected customers in advance.”
According to the latest figures from the epidemic tracking website worldometers.info, the daily rate of COVID-19 cases in the United States has exceeded the surge brought by the Delta variant. On December 23, there were 267,269 new cases in the United States, far exceeding the record of 197,535 new cases set on August 27. At that time, the Omicron “predecessor” Delta variant dominated the epidemic, bringing a new peak.
According to earlier reports, Germany-based Lufthansa said on Friday that it cancelled more than a dozen long-distance transatlantic flights during the Christmas period due to a “surge” in the number of pilots on sick leave. In spite of the increase in “a large number of buffers” during this period, flights to Houston, Boston and Washington were forced to be cancelled.
Although the Omicron variant strain is worrying, it is difficult to hinder the demand for air transportation during the holiday season. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration said that 2.19 million people were screened at airports across the country on Thursday, the highest number of holiday travel passengers since they began to climb a week ago.
European countries have set new records of new cases
While Omicron is pushing for a new round of outbreak numbers in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Italy all reported record-breaking new cases of COVID-19 on Friday.
According to government data, the UK reported 122,186 new cases on Christmas Eve, the highest single-day number since the pandemic began. The UK Health Security Agency reported that 23,719 new cases of Omicron variants were recorded across the UK on Friday, and the total number of confirmed Omicron cases in the country is currently 114,625.
In response to the epidemic, the UK vaccination plan has been accelerated. The British Ministry of Health said on Friday that the country’s vaccination efforts had set a record within a week.
At the same time, according to data from the Ministry of Health, France reported 94,124 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, which also set a record. The French government announced that President Emmanuel Macron will hold a video conference with ministers on Monday to discuss the coronavirus crisis.
According to data from the Italian Ministry of Health, Italy added 50,599 COVID-19 cases on Friday, a record. Research released by the Italian Institute of Advanced Health on Thursday showed that Omicron variants are “rapidly increasing” across the country.
Other European countries also saw record new cases earlier this week. Denmark reported 20,635 daily cases on Tuesday, a record high, while Spain saw a record 72,912 new cases on Thursday.
Although, the current COVID-19 hospitalization rate is still relatively lower than the peak earlier this year. But health and government officials have been warning that the Omicron variant may overwhelm hospitals and medical staff.
William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the United States, told CNN on Friday: “There are many places in the country where the number of hospitalizations is now increasing.”
Editor in charge: Lin Yan#
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