BREAKING NEWS: White House Considering Florida Travel Restrictions Amid Surge of UK Covid Variant
We’ve got some details just coming out of Washington and shared via The Miami Herald that the Biden administration is currently considering travel restrictions to and from Florida due to recent reports that the UK strain of the COVID-19 virus is spreading quickly in the Sunshine State.
It should be noted that at this time Disney World HAS NOT released an official details regarding this policy or its potential impact.
According to reports, domestic travel restrictions are being considered as the CDC grows increasingly fearful of mutations of the virus and the impact it might have on the hard-fought progress made in combating the pandemic.
The UK strain as well as others from South Africa and Brazil could potentially have the ability to evade existing vaccines which is lending urgency to coming up with new strategies.
(David Roark, photographer)
“There are active conversations about what could help mitigate spread here, but we have to follow the data and what’s going to work. We did this with South Africa, we did this with Brazil, because we got clear guidance,” one White House official said. “But we’re having conversations about anything that would help mitigate spread,” the official said. According to the Herald, this statement was made in reference to travel restrictions that could target the spread of the UK mutation in Florida.
The UK variant known as B.1.1.7, has recently exploded in Florida, where over a third of all cases in the United States have been identified.
Photo: AP Photo/John Raoux
Two governments officials told the Herald that announcements regarding policy updates are “imminent” but also that any travel restrictions or other health measures would be taken after consulting with state and local governments. “No decisions have been made, but we certainly are having conversations across government,” the White House official said, pointing to current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encouraging Americans to stay home and only travel for essential reasons.
These measures would have obvious implications for those planning on traveling to Florida during the busy Spring Break period next month.
“This is a war and we’re at battle with the virus. War is messy and unpredictable, and all options are on the table,” the White House official said. According to the report, travel industry officials are in communication with the CDC regarding potential new actions. AGAIN, Disney nor the state of Florida have made any official announcements regarding restrictions as of yet.
Readers are encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog and we promise to keep you posted of ANY further news and updates.
Source: Miami Herald
