Coronavirus fallout cancels flights at Columbia airport
Airlines have cancelled flights at Columbia’s airport as air traffic has dropped by almost a third amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Columbia Metropolitan Airport said Monday that both American Airlines and Delta have canceled flights to New York City — currently experiencing one of the nation’s worst outbreaks of the virus. American has also canceled all flights from Columbia to Miami.
Delta has also suspended five daily flights to Atlanta, cutting the total leaving Columbia on any given day from nine to four. American has also cut back daily flights to Charlotte from seven to six and flights to Washington, D.C., from three to two.
More cutbacks could come in the days ahead as flights worldwide have “drastically declined or stopped all together,” an airport spokesperson said. Flights into Columbia this month are down 29% from a year earlier, she said.
“When everyone is able to get back to business, we will be ready to help get them there,” said Kim Jamieson, marketing director at Columbia’s airport. “It will take time, but we will come back from this stronger than before. We have no doubt.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 4:24 PM.
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