• This Month on WestView News
  • Featured
  • Monthly Columns
  • Editorials
  • Articles
  • Briefly Noted
  • WestViews
  • Photos
  • Front Page
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • EXTRA
WESTVIEW NEWS
Menu
  • This Month on WestView News
  • Featured
  • Monthly Columns
  • Editorials
  • Articles
  • Briefly Noted
  • WestViews
  • Photos
 › News › Airports Are Petri Dishes for Virus

Airports Are Petri Dishes for Virus

Web Admin 05/03/2020     News

WE WILL NEVER KNOW how many airport travelers carried more of the virus to the United States than we already had. Photo by J. Taylor Basker.

By J. Taylor Basker

Two of my friends returned recently from countries embattled in the fight against the Coronavirus, but there was no health check of any sort when they got off their planes at Newark Airport. One was returning with his wife from a Fulbright in Israel, which has a large outbreak of Coronavirus due to the refusal of many in the Ultra-Orthodox communities to follow safe guidelines. Their plane flying from Tel Aviv was full of Hasidim, whose communities have high infection levels. He was shocked that there was no health check of any sort, no questions asked, no temperatures taken as they deplaned. Everyone just went through customs as usual, got their luggage and left.

Another friend flew in from Paris, which also is experiencing a large outbreak. His plane was packed because Trump had announced he was restricting all flights from Europe. Immediately there was much hysteria with Americans desperate to get home. When he first arrived at the airport the plane had few passengers, but suddenly it became full of people paying outrageously high prices for tickets. Upon arrival in the US there was no health check of any sort. He also was shocked. The travel ban never materialized and there was great confusion over Trump’s conflicting policies. However, the Coronavirus got a free ride and easy entry. Many airport workers have fallen ill; some have died. We will never know how many travelers carried more of the virus to us than we had.

NPR reported as far back as March 1 that airport workers in the US were fearful and not adequately protected from the virus. If they complained they could lose their jobs. The FAA has been slow to respond, meanwhile airport workers have died. The Federal Government tried to set procedures in place in March to screen people entering the US., however some of the CDC screeners became infected since they were not provided with N95 masks but only with regular masks for protection.

Complaints about the long lines seem to have influenced the government to drop screening. There appears to be no national policy in place. This is another egregious and dangerous example of the inept leadership in Washington. Greenwich Village has many residents who must travel abroad for important reasons despite the pandemic. Unfortunately due to lack of careful policies at airports, they can risk infection just picking up their luggage.

 Previous Post

Flying Rome–NYC–Rome During the Crisis: My Personal Experience

Next Post 

What’s the Future of Our Health Care?

Related Articles

After 29 years of dedicated cheerful superintendent service
Why Am I Running?
Release from Jerusalem Prison Inspires Bestseller
Crowdfunding Campaign Update: A Reward Greater Than Cash
The Sixth Precinct Builds the Block
“Whose Post Office? Our Post Office!”
God’s Love We Deliver
The State of Our Health Care and Hospitals: Carlina Rivera Calls for Change
Manhattan’s Vacancy Rate Soars
Veteran State Assembly Member Faces Newbie Challenger
The Ghost of Professional Journalism
The Pines and BLM
2020 Village Awardee: Village Apothecary
July 2020 Community Events from the West 13th Street Alliance
His Name is John
Reboot 2.0
Maggie B’s Quick Clicks
Billy Hart Quartet at the Village Vanguard June 13-14, 2010
The Village Vanguard Reopens Virtually with Live Streaming
The Dark Side of ADA Litigation
Kushner Real Estate in the Village: Another Slumlord
A Vodka Bottle with an Important Political Message; Sex and the West Village; Her Shoes Could be Yours!
God’s Love We Deliver: Proudly Making a Difference, One Meal at a Time, since 1985
The Plight of New Yorkers Who Have No Homes
Feel the Power: Vote on June 23
Suicide at 45 Christopher Street
Michael Sorkin, Greenwich Village Creative, Dies
Flying Rome–NYC–Rome During the Crisis: My Personal Experience
Staying Emotionally Connected: Corey Johnson and Westbeth Artists
Victoria Ann Ottomanelli
Craig Gilbert
Live Streaming from St. John’s in the Village
St. John’s in the Village & Invisible Hands: Helping Seniors Stay Home
Death of a Hospital
Research Fights COVID
Neighbor Helps WestView!
BREAKING NEWS—Hope: The situation in China seems to be improving
Wiggins In Love
Music in the Time of Corona

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

January 2020

Subscribe Now

January 2020

Donate Now

Read the Archives

Sign up for WestView News EXTRA

Copyright © WestView News