Europe, US Reel As Virus Infections Surge At Record Pace

Coronavirus cases around the world have climbed to all-time highs of more than 330,000 per day as the scourge comes storming back across Europe and spreads with renewed speed in the U.S., forcing many places to reimpose tough restrictions eased just months ago. Well after Europe seemed to have largely tamed the virus that proved so lethal last spring, newly confirmed infections are reaching unprecedented levels in Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy and Poland. Most of the rest of the continent is seeing similar danger signs. France announced a 9 p.m. curfew in Paris and other big cities. Londoners face new restrictions on meeting with people indoors. The Netherlands closed bars and restaurants this week. The Czech Republic and Northern Ireland shut schools. Poland limited restaurant hours and closed gyms and pools. In the United States, new cases per day are on the rise in 44 states, with many of the biggest surges in the Midwest and Great Plains, where resistance to masks and other precautions has been running high and the virus has often been seen as just a big-city problem. Deaths per day are climbing in 30 states. “I see this as one of the toughest times in the epidemic,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious-disease specialist at the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. “The numbers are going up pretty rapidly. We’re going to see a pretty large epidemic across the Northern Hemisphere.” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious-disease expert, said Americans should think hard about whether to hold Thanksgiving gatherings. “Everyone has this traditional, emotional, warm feeling about the holidays and bringing a group of people, friends and family, together in the house indoors,” he said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “We really have to be careful this time that each individual family evaluates the risk-benefit of doing that.” Responses to the surge have varied in hard-hit states. In North Dakota, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum raised the coronavirus risk level in 16 counties this week but issued no mandated restrictions. In Wisconsin, a judge temporarily blocked an order from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers that would limit the number of people in bars and restaurants. South Dakota on Wednesday broke its record for COVID-19 hospitalizations and new cases and has had more deaths from the disease less than halfway through October than in any other full month. Despite the grim figures, GOP Gov. Kristi Noem has resisted pressure to step up the state’s response to the disease. Wisconsin hit a new daily high for confirmed infections for the second time this week. In Missouri, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 reached nearly 1,450, another record. Dr. Marc Larsen, who oversees the COVID-19 response at Kansas City-based St. Luke’s Health System, said the system’s rural hospitals are seeing surges just as bad as in Kansas City. “Early on in this pandemic, it was felt that this was a big-city problem, and now this is stretching out into the rural communities where I think there has not been as much emphasis on masking and distancing,” he said. New cases in the U.S. have risen over the past two weeks from about 40,000 per day on average to more than 52,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. (Cases peaked in the U.S. over the summer at nearly 70,000 a day.) Deaths were relatively stable over the past two weeks, at around 720 a day. That is well below the U.S. peak of over 2,200 dead per day in late April. Worldwide, deaths have fallen slightly in recent weeks to about 5,200 a day, down from a peak of around 7,000 in April. Dr. Hans Kluge, the head of the World Health Organization’s Europe office, urged governments to be “uncompromising” in controlling the virus. He said most of the spread is happening because people aren’t complying with the safety rules. Europe’s financial markets fell sharply Thursday on concerns that the new restrictions will undercut the continent’s economic recovery. Stocks were down slightly on Wall Street. In France, which reported over 22,000 new infections Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron put 18 million residents in nine regions, including Paris, under a curfew starting Saturday. The country will deploy 12,000 police officers to enforce it. Italy set a one-day record for infections and recorded the highest daily death toll of this second wave, adding 83 victims to bring its count to nearly 36,400, the second-highest in Europe after Britain. In Britain, London and seven other areas face restrictions that will mean more than 11 million people will be barred from meeting with anyone indoors from outside their households and will be asked to minimize travel starting this weekend. European nations have seen nearly 230,000 confirmed deaths from the virus, while the U.S. has recorded over 217,000, though experts agree the official figures understate the true toll. So far in the new surges, deaths have not increased at the same pace as infections. For one thing, it can take time for people to get sick and die of the virus. Also, many of the new cases involve young people, who are less likely than older ones to get seriously ill. Patients are benefiting from new drugs and other improvements in treating COVID-19. And nursing homes, which were ravaged by the virus last spring, have gotten better at controlling infections. But experts fear it is only a matter of time before deaths start rising in step with infections. “All of this does not bode well,” said Josh Michaud, associate director of global health policy with the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington. “Rapid increases in cases like we’re seeing now are always followed by increases in hospitalizations and deaths, which is what is likely to occur across much of Europe and the U.S. in the coming weeks and months.” Among the areas hit by the new surge is Gove County in Kansas, where the sheriff, the emergency management director, the CEO of the local hospital and more than 50 medical staff members have tested positive. Dr. Doug Gruenbacher, a physician who contracted the virus in September, said people around Gove County are concerned about their personal liberty and “not wanting to be told what to do.” “That’s part of the reason of why we love it here, because of that spirit and because of that independence,” he said. “But unfortunately, it’s something that also contributes to some of the difficulties that we’re having right now.” Full Coverage: Virus Outbreak ___ Associated Press writers around Europe and the U.S. contributed to this report. __ Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

London Faces New Restrictions As City Sees Higher Virus Risk

LONDON (AP) — London and seven other areas will face further restrictions after the British government on Thursday raised their coronavirus risk levels in an effort to slow the exponential rise in infection rates across the country. The government’s decision to move the communities into its second-highest coronavirus risk tier means that more than 11 million people will be barred from meeting with anyone indoors from outside their households and will be asked to minimize travel starting this weekend. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons that he recognized these restrictions would be hard on individuals and businesses, but said tough decisions were needed now to keep people safe. The government is negotiating with the leaders of Manchester, Lancashire and other communities in northern England about moving into the top risk tier, which would require the closure of many businesses. “Coronavirus is deadly and it’s now spreading exponentially in the U.K.,” Hancock said. “We must act to prevent more hospitalizations, more deaths and more economic damage.″ Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week introduced a three-tier regional approach to combating the coronavirus pandemic, with each tier bringing in progressively tighter restrictions. The government is trying to slow rising infection rates and prevent the National Health Service from being swamped with COVID-19 cases this winter while seeking to avoid a national lockdown that would ravage the U.K.’s struggling economy. The opposition Labour Party’s spokesman on health issues, Jonathan Ashworth, described the measures as inadequate to stem the exponential growth of the virus. He reiterated calls for the government to implement the recommendations of its scientific advisers and impose a two- to three-week national lockdown, or “circuit break,″ arguing it could save thousands of lives. After Johnson on Wednesday refused to rule out such a move, Ashworth asked Thursday what the government’s criteria were for taking such action. “How many more hospital admissions? How much non-COVID care delayed? Dare I say, how many more deaths?″ Ashworth said. “Action is needed now.″ Hancock shrugged off the question, saying now was the time to work together. “That is the best way to defeat this virus,” he said. Britain already has Europe’s deadliest outbreak, with over 43,200 confirmed virus deaths. The change for Londoners comes as millions of people in northern England are waiting to find out whether they will be placed under the government’s tightest COVID-19 restrictions, which the city of Liverpool already faces. Hancock said discussions were continuing with Greater Manchester and Lancashire about moving those communities into the government’s highest risk tier. Local leaders, including members of Johnson’s Conservative Party, have opposed such measures unless financial support is given to their communities to limit the damage to businesses and individuals. The government held discussions with Greater Manchester leaders on Thursday amid questions about whether the region of 2.8 million people would be classified as “very high risk,” which requires further restrictions such as closing bars. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham once again rejected government pressure to accept the higher risk rating without further financial support. He said any regional closure would require widespread business closures beyond the shutdown of pubs and would have to be done in tandem with neighboring regions. “It is wrong to place some of the poorest parts of England in a punishing lockdown without proper support for the people and businesses affected,″ he told reporters in Manchester. “To do so will result in certain hardship, job losses. business failure. It will cause harm in a different way to people’s mental health and is not certain to control the virus.″ Burnham said the government’s own scientific advisers aren’t certain the regional lockdown strategy will work, and he argued that the government is asking his area’s residents to gamble their homes, jobs and businesses and a chunk of their economy on an experiment. “They are willing to sacrifice jobs and businesses here to try and save them elsewhere,″ a visibly furious Burnham said. “Greater Manchester, the Liverpool city region and Lancashire are being set up as the canaries in the coal mine for an experimental regional lockdown strategy as an attempt to prevent the expense of what is truly needed.″ The other U.K. nations — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — have also been tightening restrictions in recent weeks in light of the virus’ resurgence. There are growing indications that travel between the four nations will start to be restricted too, particularly to and from areas deemed to be high risk. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Wednesday that she would ask Johnson for an urgent meeting on a four-nation strategy to restrict travel from high-risk areas to lower risk communities. Unilaterally, she asked people from central Scotland, including cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh that are facing the tightest restrictions, to avoid traveling to Blackpool, a seaside town in northwest England famous for its illuminated installations at this time of year. Blackpool is an even bigger draw for Scots this year because pubs will be showing the soccer match between the country’s two biggest soccer teams, Rangers and Celtic — while pubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh are still closed. ___ Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

The Latest Travel Updates From The Frankfurt-Rhine Main Region Of Germany Including First “Safe From Covid-19” Airport And A New Hotel On The Rhine

 

First “Safe from Covid-19” airport, a new hotel on the Rhine and more news from Germany. Dream your way to Europe!

With the advent of autumn comes new hope for the time ahead – hope that we will soon be able to welcome international guests with our arms wide open. Until then, let’s dream on! However, when the time comes, FrankfurtRhineMain region is a great way to start any trip to Europe. TÜV Hessen, the technical inspection services association of the state of Hesse, recently awarded Frankfurt International Airport the “Safe from Covid-19” quality seal, the first German airport to receive it. Read more about this and the brand-new visitor center at the airport. This press release will also tell you all about a new hotel on the Rhine, the latest exhibitions, intense flavors due to volcanic soils, and highlights, virtual offers and detailed travel suggestions in this unique area in Germany. Let your readers know about all these opportunities when travel is again permitted, and let them dream their way right to the heart of Germany!

The first official “Safe from Covid-19” airport in Germany

Frankfurt International Airport is one of the major gateways to Germany and all of Europe. The importance of this airport for international travel is undisputed. We are proud to announce that Frankfurt International Airport is the very first German airport to receive the “Safe from Covid-19” quality seal from TÜV Hessen, the technical inspection services association of the state of Hesse, which is valid for six months. This means that the airport has rigorously implemented government guidelines for safe travel (safety and hygiene guidelines) and passed all official tests and checks conducted by the association. It has its own medical center and special Covid-19 testing stations, and will be opening a brand new visitor center in Terminal 1 (between areas B and C) at the end of the year. Read more about the latest developments at Frankfurt International Airport here.

 

Frankfurt awarded quality seal for accessible travel

Frankfurt is the first city in the Hessen region and only the fifth in Germany to receive the all-important “Travel for All” quality seal for accessible travel. More than 20 tourist facilities (hotels, museums, restaurants and more) have been verified as excellent facilities for disabled visitors. This has been a major project for the city over many years, and will continue to be central when it comes to future developments. The “Barrier-free Frankfurt” brochure contains important information about accessible tourist amenities, including details like door width, the location of public toilets for wheelchair users and so on. The brochure is available for download here.

  

The Sound of Disney – a new exhibition in Frankfurt

Wallow in childhood memories of great animations, particularly those of Walt Disney, that will take you back to magical times. “The Sound of Disney”, a special exhibition at the DFF (the Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum, an international film heritage organization) revolves around the sounds of classic Disney animated films between 1928 and 1967. Walt Disney (1901–1966) was a perfectionist. His masterpieces produced while he was still alive include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (US 1937) and The Jungle Book (US 1967). Not only is he renowned for these and the invention of Mickey Mouse, but also for his unique fusion of sound and film. The exhibition, which opened on August 7 and can be visited until January 10, 2021, highlights this, providing an interactive experience that makes the meaning of voice, music and sound in animated films understandable to everyone. It delivers a cross section of the artistic work of Walt Disney’s studio, inviting you to reminisce and “Forget about your worries and your strife”.

 

The Jewish Museum Frankfurt is reopening

It is near impossible to visit Frankfurt and not stumble upon a museum, the city being one of the major museum locations in Germany. The Jewish Museum, a veritable jewel in Frankfurt’s crown, has been refurbished and is now approaching its reopening on October 21, 2020. “Frankfurt's Jewish history since 1800”, a new permanent exhibition opening in the Rothschild-Palais, a historic residential house, is spread over an area of approximately 1,500 square meters on three floors. Each floor will present a different perspective of Jewish history and culture. The location is well chosen: Frankfurt is one of the centers of Jewish culture in Europe. The exhibition recounts how Jews influenced the city’s cultural, economic and social development, and also focuses on Jewish experiences of discrimination and violence, featuring Anne Frank and displaying family artifacts and documents for the first time. This interactive museum is a must when visiting Frankfurt.

 

Papa Rhein – a new hotel and spa in Bingen am Rhein

What could be more romantic than visiting a city that sprawls along the Rhine, one of the longest rivers in Central and Western Europe? Regarded as the gateway to the “Upper Middle Rhine Valley” UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bingen is situated at the intersection of four winegrowing areas. The Papa Rhein, a hotel that had its soft opening on July 31 and will have its much-awaited grand opening on September 15, presents a whole new take on accommodation: The rooms are inspired by the Rhine, river life and ports, and the history of the Middle Rhine Valley; range from a cozy bunk to amazing suites; and boast views of the river, the surrounding vineyards and the nearby “Niederwalddenkmal”, a monument commemorating the founding of the German Empire following the Franco-Prussian War. There’s nothing better than relaxing in the spa or watching a spectacular sunset from the rooftop lounge. But the Papa Rhein offers much more, so be sure to visit its website (German only).

 

Exceptional flavors in the Vogelsberg

Who would have thought that anything growing in the volcanic soils of the Vogelsberg in Central Hesse could have more intense and tangy flavors! This is all due to the erosion of basalt. The first season of “Der Vulkan kocht” (literally: the volcano cooks), a new culinary experience based on regional specialties including game, lamb, potatoes and apples, runs from September 1 to November 8, 2020. The second season, which features strawberries, lamb and trout, is planned for spring 2021. It will be exciting to see what the 17 participating catering establishments will create from the seasonal, sustainable, regional and animal-friendly products. What we do know is that it will be an unforgettable and highly enjoyable experience. To read more about the event in the Vogelsberg region, be sure to visit its website (German only).

   

The best of art nouveau at Museum Wiesbaden

The beautiful city of Wiesbaden lies on the banks of the Rhine and borders the famous Rheingau region. Museum Wiesbaden, an art and natural history museum, has been home to one of the most significant European private collections of art nouveau and symbolism since June 29, 2019. The Ferdinand Wolfgang Neess collection was donated to the museum on March 23, 2017, transforming it into one of the most important centers for art nouveau in Germany. The international collection comprises some 700 German, French and Austrian works of art including furniture, glass, ceramics, lamps and paintings of exceptional quality, attracting both history lovers and people who would like to simply broaden their horizons. If you would like to find out what else you could do in this city and all it has to offer, click here to watch “That’s why we love it” and, perhaps, fall in love with Wiesbaden yourself.

 

The current coronavirus situation and traveling safely in Germany

We have put together a few sources for you to keep updated on the current coronavirus situation in Germany and how to travel as safely as possible. The latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, include daily reports and recommendations, are available on the Robert Koch Institute website. To read more about how Frankfurt International Airport is dealing with the pandemic and what to consider when flying, please click here to visit the airport’s website. Exploring the region by train is easy and practical: Please visit the Deutsche Bahn website for more information and guidelines for safe rail travel.

Travelore News: Cuba Closes Off Havana To Stamp Out Spread Of Coronavirus

A street vendor wearing a mask as a precaution against the spread of the new coronavirus pushes his cart down a street in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. Cuban authorities will introduce new measures starting tomorrow Tuesday aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus in Havana among others a curfew from 7 pm until 5 am and no one without special permission will be able to enter or leave the province. The new measures will last at least 15 days. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban authorities ordered a strict 15-day lockdown of Havana on Tuesday seeking to stamp out the low-level but persistent spread of the novel coronavirus in the capital.

Aggressive anti-virus measures including closing down air travel have virtually eliminated COVID-19 in Cuba with the exception of Havana, where cases have surged from a handful a day to dozens daily over the last month.

Starting September 2nd, Havana is under a 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. Most stores are barred from selling to shoppers from outside the immediate neighborhood in order to discourage people from moving around the city.

Some Havana residents complained that the measures were complicating the already difficult task of buying food in a city stricken by constant shortages and endless lines for a limited supply of basic goods.

“It’s a good cause, getting rid of all of this (coronavirus), but in the end they aren’t going to get rid of the lines,″ said Josuel Suárez, a 26-year-old engineer. “The situation is already difficult, and on top of that these restrictive measures, and people have to eat, to resolve their problems.″

Others welcomed the tighter control.

“Many people don’t pay attention to medical advice. This is how we’re going to resolve this situation, which isn’t easy,″ said Rosa Rojas, an 80-year-old homemaker. ’’I go out because I need to, but there are people in the street with no reason, drinking rum and hanging out in parks without a face mask.″

Police stationed on every road leaving Havana are supposed to stop everyone who doesn’t have a special permit to travel, meant to be issued only in extraordinary circumstances. Some provinces that saw no new cases for weeks have begun detecting them in recent days, often linked to travelers from Havana.

The start of in-person classes was also indefinitely delayed in Havana, even as schools open normally in the rest of Cuba.

The island of 11 million people has reported slightly more than 4,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, with fewer than 100 deaths, one of the lowest rates in the region during the pandemic.

The government made face masks obligatory in the early stages of its pandemic response and in the first months of the crisis police aggressively fined and even jailed people for violations.

That stance slackened somewhat as Havana moved out of the first, strictest phase of lockdown in July, public transportation restarted and people returned to work. Cases began to climb, and the capital province returned to phase zero last month.

But the measures failed to brake the rise of coronavirus infections, as authorities bemoaned widespread violations of requirements including wearing face masks, avoiding large gatherings and maintaining social distance.

The government announced last week that for at least 15 days the capital would be placed under the strictest measures to date. They include fines of up to $125 per violation, more than triple the average monthly wage.

“We are going to demand people follow the rules with a lot of rigor so that our country sees the results it deserves,″ Dr. Francisco Durán, the country’s head of epidemiology, said Tuesday morning.

A

Uber To Require That Passengers Provide Face-Mask Selfies

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mask slackers will now have to provide photographic proof they’re wearing a face covering before boarding an Uber.

The San Francisco-based company unveiled a new policy Tuesday stipulating that if a driver reports to Uber that a rider wasn’t wearing a mask, the rider will have to provide Uber with a selfie with one strapped on the next time they summon a car on the world’s largest ride-hailing service.

The requirement will roll out in the U.S. and Canada later this month before coming to other parts of the world.

The additional safety measures are part of Uber’s ongoing efforts to rebuild a service that has seen ridership plunge this year. People have been seeking to minimize the chances of becoming sick and and also have had fewer reasons to go anywhere, with offices, bars, restaurants and nightclubs closed through much of the U.S. and other parts of the world.

The adverse conditions caused the number of trips on Uber during its most recent quarter to plunge by 56% from the previous year.

The mask verification rule expands upon a similar requirement that Uber imposed on its drivers in May to help reassure passengers worried about being exposed to the novel coronavirus that has upended society. Now, Uber believes it’s time to help make its drivers feel safer, too.

Six Philadelphia Hotels Offering Free Nights And Discounted Rates Perfect for Long Weekends & Mid-Week Escapes To Recharge, Reconnect, Disconnect And Celebrate

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia hotels are offering free nights and discounted rates to help locals and visitors explore the region safely and responsibly once again. Those looking to recharge, reconnect, disconnect and celebrate have plenty of options to do just that at several popular Center City hotels. These deals are perfect for enjoying the city as major attractions reopen and indoor dining in Philadelphia returns on September 8th (Reservations are suggested for dining and cultural activities). Take a look at six enticing offers available right now:

Package Name: Suite Life

Hotel: Four Seasons Philadelphia Hotel at Comcast Center
Package Overview: Guests who book a suite 14 days in advance enjoy 20% off their stay.
Available: Through December 30, 2020
Book: fourseasons.com/philadelphia  

Package Name: Half-off Offer
Hotel: Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown
Package Overview: Those who book one night, get a second night at 50% off.
Available: Through December 30, 2020

Book: marriott.com

Package Name: Half-off Offer
Hotel: Marriott Philadelphia Old City
Package Overview: Book one night, get a second night at 50% off.
Available: Through December 30, 2020

Book: marriott.com

Package Name: More Space for Less
Hotel: Loews Philadelphia Hotel
Package Overview: This deal offers a second room (of equal or lesser value) at 50% off.
Available: Through December 31, 2020
Book: loewshotels.com/philadelphia-hotel

Package Name: Stay Close
Hotel: Sofitel Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square
Package Overview: Visitors who stay one night get a second night free. Those who stay two nights, get two nights free. And on and on.
Available: Through 2020
Book: sofitel-philadelphia.com

Package Name: Rediscover Philadelphia
Hotel: The Study at University City
Package Overview: Guests who book two nights score a third night free, plus free parking.
Available: Through March 31, 2021
Book: thestudy@universitycity.com

About VISIT PHILADELPHIA:

VISIT PHILADELPHIA is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy.

On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets. 6^th & Market Streets, (800) 537-7676

Explore Fairbanks Announces The Arrival Of Aurora Season

Since natural phenomena are unscathed by viruses, locals are still chasing the aurora and have developed ways to safely assist visitors in this pursuit. Find five brand new real time and time lapse aurora videos on the Explore Fairbanks website and virtually engage in northern lights viewing or embark on a trip to Fairbanks following current travel restrictions and travel responsibly protocols and make all your aurora viewing wishes come true.

FAIRBANKS, Ala. Fairbanks' world-famous northern lights lure aurora chasers from around the world. Such is the case with University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) physics student Andy Witteman. Andy is so passionate about the aurora that he lives to study, photograph and chase the northern lights. When he discovered UAF's Geophysical Institute was the foremost research center for auroral studies in North America he knew that Fairbanks, Alaska, was where he wanted to follow his dreams. This Aurora Season we are partnering with Andy to showcase a few of his brilliant real time and time lapse aurora videos for those who choose to armchair travel until the time is right. Andy says, "For anyone with an adventurous spirit, the northern lights can become an obsession bringing you to the edges of the world! Big auroras can happen on nights which are seemingly quiet, and cloudy nights can break up just enough to let the purples and greens rain down from the stars!" View Andy Witteman's five brand new videos on the Explore Fairbanks website.

Explore Fairbanks has built the Aurora Tracker to assist visiting aurora chasers. The Aurora Tracker correlates three individual streams of data to predict northern lights viewing opportunities for six locations in the Fairbanks region. Data streams include: aurora forecast data from the Geophysical Institute, weather forecast data for specific northern lights viewing locations and the amount of daylight hours. The aurora will be visible in Fairbanks an average of four out of five nights when the sky is clear and dark enough. Visitors who stay a minimum of three nights and are actively out during the late evening hours increase their chance of seeing the aurora to more than 90 percent.

Spanning all four seasons and nine months of the year Aurora Season, August 21 through April 21, has arrived. Due to the fact that natural phenomena are unscathed by viruses, locals are out chasing the aurora and have developed ways to safely assist visitors in this pursuit. Whether you want to virtually engage in northern lights viewing or you want to plan to see them in person, Explore Fairbanks is at your service. On Explore Fairbanks website you will find a current downloadable PDF list of local accommodations, attractions and tours as well as eating and drinking establishments that are "Open for Business."

As you make your travel plans to Fairbanks, find up-to-date information about Alaska's COVID-19 travel restrictions, including testing requirements, pinned to the top of Explore Fairbanks home page. With careful planning and precautions, including mask wearing, social distancing and hand sanitation, we invite you to come "Explore Fairbanks Responsibly" and make your aurora viewing wishes come true.

Find out about the above and more at http://www.explorefairbanks.com. For specific questions, email info@explorefairbanks.com.

                                                                                                                    

About Explore Fairbanks
Explore Fairbanks is a non-profit marketing and management organization whose mission is to be an economic driver in the Fairbanks region by marketing to potential visitors and optimizing the visitor experience. Explore Fairbanks markets Fairbanks as a year-round destination by promoting local events, attractions and activities to independent travelers, group tour operators, travel agents, meeting planners and the media as well as by developing public policy and infrastructure to achieve marketing objectives. Explore Fairbanks encourages travelers to "Explore Fairbanks Responsibly." Find out more at explorefairbanks.com.

SOURCE Explore Fairbanks

Virus Pandemic Reshaping Air Travel As Carriers Struggle

Melaku Gebermariam uses an electrostatic sprayer to disinfect the inside of a Delta Airplane between flights on July 22, at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. U.S. airlines have scrambled to reassure travelers that planes are safe. They require passengers to wear face masks and are cleaning cabins more thoroughly, even spraying seats with anti-microbial mist. (AP Photo/Nathan Ellgren)

In a bid to survive, airlines are desperately trying to convince a wary public that measures like mandatory face masks and hospital-grade air filters make sitting in a plane safer than many other indoor settings during the coronavirus pandemic.

It isn’t working.

Surveys indicate that instead of growing comfortable with air travel, more people are becoming skeptical about it. In the United States, airline bookings have stalled in the past month after slowly rising — a reaction to a new surge of reported virus infections.

Globally, air travel is down more than 85% from a year ago, according to industry figures.

The implications for the airline industry are grave. Several leading carriers already have filed for bankruptcy protection, and if the hoped-for recovery is delayed much longer, the list will grow.

The four largest U.S. airlines lost a combined $10 billion from April through June. Their CEOs say they will survive, but they have lowered their expectations for a rebound.

“We were all hoping that by the fall the virus might run its course,” said Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly. “Obviously, that has proven to be dead wrong.”

When Consumer Reports surveyed more than 1,000 people in June about their comfort with various activities during the pandemic, 70% said flying was very or somewhat unsafe. They rated going to a hospital emergency room or standing in line to vote as safer.

In a survey commissioned by an airline trade group, the biggest concern of travelers was the possibility of sitting next to an infected person.

John Kontak, a schoolteacher from Phoenix, said that was his fear as soon as he stepped onto a crowded American Airlines flight this summer to visit his parents in Ohio.

“I don’t know anything about this person who is sitting a foot away from me,” Kontak said. “They took the bottom line or the dollar over the safety of passengers. Next time, I’d rather drive back to Ohio than fly — it’s safer because I can control it.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says sitting within 6 feet (2 meters) of other passengers, often for hours, may increase the risk of getting COVID-19. But CDC also notes that most viruses and other germs don’t spread easily on flights because of how air circulates on planes.

Standard & Poor’s said this week that the industry’s prospects have gone “from bad to worse,” with global air traffic dropping by up to 70% this year. In May, S&P said a 55% drop was a worst-case scenario.

“It’s going to be a slower and more uneven recovery than one might have expected,” S&P analyst Philip Baggaley said.

An airline trade group, the International Air Transport Association, predicts carriers will lose $84 billion this year, making it the worst year in the industry’s history. The group says traffic won’t fully recover until 2024.

Full Coverage: Virus Outbreak

Asia, where outbreaks were brought under control earlier, is doing better than the U.S. and Europe. Domestic travel inside China has recovered to about two-thirds its year-ago level. In the U.S., traffic is less than one-third of 2019 levels.

Air traffic at Europe’s more than 500 airports has tumbled, down 94% in June compared with the same month last year. There were about 4 million passengers, compared with 217 million a year earlier.

Travel ticked up when more than two dozen European countries opened borders to one another in early July, but virus cases are rising in several countries, leading to reimposed restrictions. This week, the U.K. imposed a 14-day quarantine requirement on travelers — even Britons returning home — from France and the Netherlands. Travel from outside Europe, including the United States, is still restricted.

In the United States, traffic picked up after collapsing by 95% in April but has stalled — down 74% in July, 72% in August.

Airlines came into this crisis in the best shape ever financially, thanks to rising demand for travel, reduced competition through mergers, and billions raised by extra fees.

Among international carriers, the big state-backed airlines are almost certain to survive. In Asia and the Middle East, they are often seen as vital contributors to the overall economy. Similarly, big European carriers including Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and British Airways may be too important to let fail.

It’s too late for U.K.-based Flybe; it shut down in March. Latin America’s two biggest airlines, Avianca and Latam, filed for bankruptcy protection. So did Aeromexico. Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia, both part of British mogul Richard Branson’s galaxy of companies, are using the courts to reset debts.

In the U.S., Trans States and Compass, which flew smaller planes for the major airlines, and Alaska-based Ravn Air shut down, but the big airlines have survived with billions in government aid and billions more in private borrowing.

U.S. airlines have scrambled to reassure travelers that planes are safe. They require passengers to wear face masks and are cleaning cabins more thoroughly, even spraying seats with anti-microbial mist.

“You can smell the cleaning fog that’s been done, and everything is wiped down basically top to bottom – chairs, window shades, even the light switches and overhead bins,” said Jason Bounds, a veteran flight attendant at Delta Air Lines.

The airlines split in one regard. Delta, Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska leave some seats empty to create room between passengers. United, American and Spirit do not, arguing that social distancing is impossible on a plane.

Most flights have plenty of empty seats, but scenes of full planes alarm travelers.

Carol Braddick, a business coach and consultant who splits her time between Phoenix and England, was so worried about the American Airlines leg of her journey to the U.K. that she sought out a COVID-19 test after arriving.

“The person I was sitting next to was drinking nonstop, shouting to his friend a row behind him; they were shouting back and forth,” Braddick said. “The combination of alcohol, shouting and no mask is unacceptable, and the flight attendant did nothing.”

Braddick put off plans for a couple of short holiday trips within Europe this summer.

“The new reality for us is fewer trips, longer stays, and being much more selective about which airline we’ll fly,” she said.

Even frequent flyers like Seth Miller, who writes about travel at his PaxEx.aero website, are grounding themselves.

“Much as I love and miss travel, it just doesn’t seem worth the risk to me,” he said.

By DAVID KOENIG and DAVID McHUGH___

Nathan Ellgren in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

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David Koenig can be reached at www.twitter.com/airlinewriter.

@TraveloreReport on Twitter