Nearly two million people are screened at U.S. airports in one of the busiest days since Covid pandemic began as 40million take to the roads for Memorial Day Weekend
Airports and highways have seen the first major holiday traffic in more than a year for the Memorial Day weekend.
This holiday weekend will feel something closer to Memorial Days of old, with vaccines on the rise and Covid-19 restrictions are fully lifted in many places.
Nearly 43 million US citizens are expected to hit the roads this weekend, according to the AAA.
'This is the second highest, travel volume on record, since AAA began tracking holiday travel volume dating back to the 2000's,' a spokesperson for AAA said.
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 1,854,534 people passed through airport checkpoints Thursday, marking the second-most travelled day since the pandemic hit.
A very busy LAX on Memorial Day weekend in Los Angeles, CA. Heavy traffic at the arrivals level at the airport and very busy terminals and baggage claims at LAX on Sunday
Lines of traffic as holidaymakers arrive at Los Angeles International Airport for the Memorial Day weekend on Sunday
Crowds flock to the beach on Sunday during Memorial Day weekend in Miami Beach, Florida
The first-busiest day was May 23, which saw 9,163 more people take to the skies.
TSA predicts that one day this weekend, over two million travellers will pass through checkpoints.
Images show long queues at Los Angeles International Airport, with very busy terminals and baggage claims on Sunday.
Others show the queues of traffic that built up at the arrivals level of LAX airport.
Crowds flocked to the beaches in Miami, Florida which were packed with revelers enjoying the weekend sunshine.
A very busy LAX on Memorial Day weekend in Los Angeles. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 1,854,534 people passed through airport checkpoints Thursday, marking the second-most travelled day since the pandemic hit
This holiday weekend will feel something closer to Memorial Days of old, with vaccines on the rise and Covid-19 restrictions are fully lifted in many places
'This is the second highest, travel volume on record, since AAA began tracking holiday travel volume dating back to the 2000's,' a spokesperson for AAA said
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 1,854,534 people passed through airport checkpoints Thursday, marking the second-most travelled day since the pandemic hit
A very busy LAX on Memorial Day weekend in Los Angeles. Pictured, heavy traffic at the arrivals level at the airport and very busy terminals and baggage claims at LAX
Crowds flock to the beach on Sunday during Memorial Day weekend in Miami Beach, Florida
Crowds flock to the beach on Sunday during Memorial Day weekend in Miami Beach, Florida
Crowds flocked to the beaches in Miami, Florida which were packed with revelers enjoying the weekend sunshine
Crowds flocked to the beaches in Miami, Florida which were packed with revelers enjoying the weekend sunshine
Around the nation, Americans will be able to pay tribute to fallen troops in ways that were impossible last year, when virus restrictions were in effect in many places.
It will also be a time to remember the tens of thousands of veterans who died from Covid-19 and recommit to vaccinating those who remain reluctant.
Art delaCruz, a 53-year-old retired Navy commander in Los Angeles leads the Veterans Coalition for Vaccination, said his group has been encouraging inoculated veterans to volunteer at vaccine sites to dispel myths and help assuage concerns, many of which are also shared by current service members.
'We understand it's a personal choice, so we try to meet people where they are,' said delaCruz, who is also president of Team Rubicon, a disaster-response nonprofit made up of military veterans.
There's no definitive tally for coronavirus deaths or vaccinations among American military vets, but Department of Veterans Affairs data shows more than 12,000 have died and more than 2.5 million have been inoculated against COVID-19 out of the roughly 9 million veterans enrolled in the agency's programs.
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