Thanksgiving Can't Beat COVID... Crowds Bustling at US Airports and Shopping Malls

Despite Surpassing 12 Million Cumulative Cases
Concerns Over Another Resurgence as a New Trigger

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Ahead of Thanksgiving Day (26th), the largest holiday in the United States, airports and shopping malls are crowded with people, raising concerns that it could become another catalyst for the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged people to refrain from traveling and moving during the holiday period, but according to U.S. media, people still want to celebrate the holiday with their families. The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. has surpassed 12 million.

On the 23rd (local time), foreign media including The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), that more than 3 million Americans passed through airport security checkpoints over the three days from the weekend of the 20th to the 22nd. This is the highest number since March 16, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread widely across the U.S. In particular, on the 22nd, 1.05 million people passed through airport checkpoints in a single day.

In Illinois, where Chicago is located, despite a "stay-at-home advisory" issued on the 16th due to a surge in COVID-19 patients, large crowds gathered at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Chicago NBC reported, "People gathered to the extent that it was difficult to maintain a 2-meter social distance," adding, "This is a sight not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic began."

U.S. airlines have announced plans to increase flights by 15% this week, which includes Thanksgiving, due to the influx of passengers. Normally, an average of 3,500 flights operate daily, but this week, 4,000 flights are planned.

Not only airports but also shopping malls have seen significant crowds as the year-end shopping season approaches. WSJ reported that shopping malls that had closed due to COVID-19 in New York, Michigan, Texas, and other places are regaining vitality. Stores such as Best Buy, Apple, and Lego were crowded with shoppers, and long lines formed outside the stores to control the crowds.

A salesperson at the fashion company Michael Kors said, "It seems the shopping season has started a little earlier than the usual year-end season," adding, "Shoppers are afraid of another shutdown and are shopping early."

The National Retail Federation forecasted that the COVID-19 pandemic would not negatively affect holiday sales. According to the association, sales this year are expected to increase by 5.2%, up 3.6% from the previous year. In particular, online sales are expected to increase by 20-30% compared to a year ago.

While the crowds ahead of Thanksgiving may help economic activity, concerns about the epidemic are inevitably growing. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham expressed concern, saying, "One thing is clear. Gathering for Thanksgiving this year could very well lead us to a funeral."

COVID-19 testing sites across the U.S. are also becoming crowded. CNN reported that some testing sites require waiting for three to four hours. In Los Angeles, long lines of vehicles waiting for drive-through COVID-19 tests formed one after another. CNN reported, "Long queues are forming at COVID-19 testing sites nationwide," adding, "The surge in testing demand is expected to soon exceed capacity." Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, criticized the crowds rushing to get tested, saying, "It starkly exposes the limited testing capacity in the U.S. and the lack of a national testing strategy."

The number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. remains difficult to control. The New York Times reported that more than 171,000 new cases occurred nationwide on this day alone, with sharp increases in Arizona, California, Delaware, Louisiana, and other states.