A member of President Biden’s team leaked potential flight restrictions on Florida but then walked them back amongst other domestic protocols.
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President Biden’s Alleged Flight Restrictions
There was no official announcement this week with regard to domestic flight restrictions, but an awful lot of floating ideas and then walking them back.
The Miami Herald initially reported conversations with an unnamed White House official that would restrict flights to Florida. This was apparently in response to the UK variant of COVID-19. That variant has been said to be as much as 35% more deadly than the original and more contagious.
The official had this to say,
“But we’re having conversations about anything that would help mitigate spread,” the official said, referring to discussions about new travel restrictions that could target the spread of the U.K. mutation in Florida.” – Miami Herald
The same unnamed White House official on the topic of the UK COVID-19 variant mutation alluded to Florida but did not specifically name the sunshine state. However, responding to a question about the state from the largest paper in that state gave the Herald the confidence to print the story alleging it would target Florida and I concur. The official added this,
“No decisions have been made, but we certainly are having conversations across government,” the White House official said… “This is a war and we’re at battle with the virus. War is messy and unpredictable, and all options are on the table,” the official said.”
Florida governmental officials felt the possibility was sincere enough that it warranted a response from both Gov. Ron DeSantis and Senator Marco Rubio who wrote the following (as quoted, again, in the Herald)
“Instituting a travel ban, or any restriction of movement between the states, would be an outrageous, authoritarian move that has no basis in law or science,” Rubio wrote. The White House has not said that it is considering a Florida travel ban.
If that statement wasn’t verbose enough, the Governor was less restrained. Here is his statement as recounted by Politico:
“Any attempt to restrict or lock down Florida by the federal government would be an attack on our state, done purely for political purposes,” DeSantis said at a press conference in Port Charlotte, Fla. Healso questioned the need for any type of restrictions given Florida’s middle-of-the pack ranking in terms of Covid-19 fatalities.
The governor also added: “I think it would be unconstitutional, it would be unwise and it would be unjust.”
DeSantis, and potentially Rubio, took the move as a political attack. Both suggested that if the government were to restrict travel it would harm Floridians or target the people of Florida unfairly. They considered it an attack against the people of the state. “If they target us, we will respond.” He added the state would, “respond very swiftly” to any new attempts to restrict travel.
The constitutional element of his message referred to any restriction of Americans to travel freely domestically, more on that in the next section.
DeSantis pivoted to border security at the same news conference, stating that restricting domestic travel while allowing migrants to “pour across the southern border unmolested” seemed to be a contradiction to him.
Domestic Travel Restrictions
The Biden Administration had also announced consideration of domestic travel restrictions which would have included COVID-19 testing before any domestic flight. Many came out against this, amongst its critics, Ed Bastion, CEO of Delta Air Lines.
“It will not keep domestic flyers safer,” he said. Planes have hospital quality air filters on board and exchange fresh air into the cabin every few minutes, reducing the chance of transmission.
“In fact [there are] very, very few documented cases globally, not just domestically,” Bastian said of air-travel related infections. He added that the domestic testing requirement would take “about 10%” of the resources the country needs “to test sick people away from those people.” – CNN
Florida’s Fight With Covid-19
Florida has struggled with COVID-19, at one point, leading the nation in infections though they didn’t hold the top spot nearly as long as New York, or current leader, California. As several of the linked articles point out, Florida had the following stats to consider at the time the statements were made:
- 3rd in current infections
- 4th in mortality
- Highest in UK variant cases with 385, a third of the US total
- 28,000+ total deaths since the start
John Hopkins reports this week that just four US states/territories are trending “red” (Alaska, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and South Dakota.)
Why Florida? Why Walk Back Restrictions?
Florida is unquestionably struggling with COVID-19, but rank third in the number of total infections, and fourth in the number of deaths. Despite having the most cases of the UK variant, Florida is handling that challenge well despite that variant being a deadlier mutation.
In fact, I’d argue that the state may be exceeding expectations given that the population is generally older in the state and in poorer health. Logically, Florida should be first in mortality if they are third in infections, and that’s without the UK strain.
Some on the right would argue that the Florida restriction proposals are targeted due to the conservative nature of the state and restricting the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) regulations at seemingly every turn. Some on the left would argue that this is a safety measure to stop the UK variant, which is also thought to be far more contagious, from spreading to the rest of the country.
I’m not sure that either of those is entirely the answer. It could be a blend of the two or have nothing to do with either viewpoint. However, it is odd that the states that are struggling with both infections and mortality more so than Florida would also make the same flight restriction list.
The White House official didn’t mention any attempt to restrict other states. That makes it very odd. California, once nearly dormant on the infection list has lept to the top even passing beleaguered New York, and it’s not close. California has accrued 48,000 deaths, nearly double Florida’s in a far shorter period of time. In a baffling move, California lifted the state’s stay-at-home order on January 25th and reduced restrictions at a time when California leads the nation in cases.
So much for listening to the scientists.
Conclusion
It seems like President Biden’s administration is shopping adjustments to travel policy with respect to the virus. They alluded to Florida restrictions but not to other states that are categorically more severe, like California. The administration tested the concept of COVID-19 testing before every flight, a measure that would disproportionately affect those without the resources and time to complete a test in addition to the cost of their travel.
As Bastion stated, it would also dramatically strain the resources for sick people who need tests, vs. those who are not ill but have to prove it in order to comply and complete their journeys. Why shop the measures?
What do you think? Is President Biden’s administration testing new policy? Are new domestic measures something to consider? Has Florida been unfairly targeted?
This is a dig at Trump. Trump lives in FLA…FLA voted for Trump in the election. POLITICS AT PLAY.
Nothing new or earth shattering here. It’s the long tried and tested tactic of an administration having an “unnamed official” leak details of something they’re considering as a trial balloon to test public reaction. If there’s blowback, the admin can blame the “anonymous source” and deny any such idea was seriously under consideration. If it’s well-received, they can roll it out broadly.
I absolutely think the current admin wants a domestic travel ban of some sort, but they now have a data point that it’s a loser politically. My guess is they settle on some CDC guidance that “recommends” states or counties enforce quarantines on anyone traveling from another location with “significant community transmission”. It will likely be similar to the joke “school reopening guidelines” that say 80% of the country’s schools should be closed; it’ll have 75-85% of US counties in a red tier where mandatory quarantines are recommended. Then the press can blast any localities that refuse to comply for “ignoring the science”, or whatever.
Florida is where the dangerous but incompetent terrorist named orange turd is hiding. By putting flight restrictions i think president biden might be planning to send in seal team 6 to deal with him just as osama bin laden was dealt with. Democratic President, tough on crime, no to corruption.
USA USA USA USA USA
Technically they weren’t seals at the time as that would be an act of war. Instead it was a cia operation which I’m sure you’re aware can not operate on US soil…
Hate much , Debit??
No claire. No hate. I feel sorry for white Republican males. Their role models are spineless, classless idiots with no principles and morals who will bend over for money. Currently they have burrowed themselves deep into Trump’s [redacted by admin] kissing it for his pleasure.
As long as white Republican males know their place, on their knees kissing people’s ass, and currying their favors, I think this country can live in peace. It’s when these idiots forget their worth and storm the capitol is when problems happen.
You sound racist. Yes, it works both ways
Debit seems to have have found his own leftwing QAnon variant. Scary that we have people like that running loose among the ranks of the party of the jackass. But then its a Bray New World! No Justice – No Peace – still waiting for the party of the jackass to accept accountability for the riots, looting and burning their proxies encouraged. David Dorn lies dead in his grave and your New Messiah still ain’t shown anyone he can raise him from the dead! Perhaps you can lay your hands on Dorn’s body and resurrect him, Debit, since faith in Democrats seems to run strong in you.
White Republican male you are forgetting your place.
Get back on your knees and go back to kissing your masters ass and speak only when spoken to.
This is much ado about nothing. Joe dropped his tapioca pudding on the floor, blamed Florida and threw a tantrum, Jill ordered his nanny to replace the pudding and feed it to him and now Joe’s happy and the sanctions are on hold.
And this is how it will be for the next 3.5 years, having a senile president.
Little Marco should speak less and crawl back under Trump’s bosom.
Sadly, we are all suffering from the Biden strain.
Those who complain about whoever is in government should not benefit from its handouts.
“Florida is unquestionably struggling with COVID-19”.
This is a disgustingly dishonest lie and you should be ashamed of yourself.
Florida has the 3rd largest population in the country and a high percentage of senior citizens. So yes, Florida is going to have more COVID cases and deaths than Delaware. But why would you post total data without including ANY per capita data?
Florida has 132 deaths per 100,000 people, putting them squarely in the middle of the pack. By way of comparison, NJ has 251, NY has 231, MA 222, MI 215, RI 215, SD 207, CT 206, etc.
Exactly. I don’t understand this article at all. Florida is firmly average or slightly better than average for the country despite the second highest percentage of senior citizens. Insane article.
Again, did you read the next two lines, or nah?
“Despite having the most cases of the UK variant, Florida is handling that challenge well despite that variant being a deadlier mutation.”
“In fact, I’d argue that the state may be exceeding expectations given that the population is generally older in the state and in poorer health. Logically, Florida should be first in mortality if they are third in infections, and that’s without the UK strain.”
I don’t understand how you can read the first line, and then when I highlight that despite being third in the country, they are doing better than they should, you call the piece insane. We agree. Except, of course, with regards to reading before commenting.
Kyle–remove Debit. This person is racist.
@Adam – Really? Seriously? The next two lines read as follows:
“Despite having the most cases of the UK variant, Florida is handling that challenge well despite that variant being a deadlier mutation.”
“In fact, I’d argue that the state may be exceeding expectations given that the population is generally older in the state and in poorer health. Logically, Florida should be first in mortality if they are third in infections, and that’s without the UK strain.”
Did you just stop after that line and decide it was some sort of hit piece? Read the words.
Right. Florida is actually 24th in deaths with the 2nd oldest population in the US.
Adam- well said. This, overall, was a nice read Kyle, and I truly appreciate your candor. If more writers who eschew veiled morality, and would instead speak honestly we’d all be the better for it. There is palpable disdain and frustration from leftists that FL is having marginal success balancing the virus and the other macro needs of the population. Ask anyone with a brain if they’d rather be in Miami or NYC or LA right now…. and I think the collective answer would skew one way (no matter the political leanings of the respondent)
I’ll correct myself- Kyle, missed your original wording. My bad
Yes, target Florida but not Mexico. My entire state is going to Mexico for Spring break. Nobody cares anymore.
DeSantis and Rubio disingenuously and shamelessly turned this into a political thing, a Florida-only thing, a Left vs. Right thing, a Them vs. Us thing. Actually, here are the first three paragraphs of the Herald story:
“The Biden administration is considering whether to impose domestic travel restrictions, including on Florida, fearful that coronavirus mutations are threatening to reverse hard-fought progress on the pandemic.
“Outbreaks of the new variants — including a highly contagious one first identified in the United Kingdom, as well as others from South Africa and Brazil that scientists worry can evade existing vaccines — have lent urgency to a review of potential travel restrictions within the United States, one federal official said.
“Discussions in the administration over potential travel restrictions do not target a specific state but focus on how to prevent the spread of variants that appear to be surging in a number of states, including Florida and California.
Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article249154715.html#storylink=cpy
If this was political, California wouldn’t have been included. Covid is a moving target, and many ideas will be considered; that doesn’t mean they will be policy. Shame on those who decided to make headlines and try gain points for themselves, by pretending politics has anything to do with this idea.
Ah yes- because the overall media has been kind and open to the polices of the De Santis government…. of course its political, everything is political. The words of the President are political, him weather ballooning the idea of locking off a state that the left simply doesn’t like is political. The media has been atrocious to Florida, and thus the macro level fears of Federal overreach is founded in reality.
@Tom – This is the main quoted (and cited) source in the piece. And the points, that the variant concerns the Administration, was also made in the piece.
But I agree that none of this stuff should be political. We should follow the science. But how does it make any sense that when California is at its all-time worst in battling the virus, the state re-opens and nobody says a word. You mean to tell me that all summer when California was closed and it was doing a relatively good job (respective to its size and population) in battling the virus, but when it’s at its worst it’s ok to fling the doors open? That’s why some feel it’s political.
And though the source never named Florida in specific (which I mention in the article), they made enough of an impression that Florida would be targeted that the Herald (sister of the New York Times) felt confident enough to publish. California wasn’t alluded to in the same regard and had no comment one way or another. Had California felt they would too be included, that would have presented a very interesting situation, given that Newsom just re-opened the state but is politically aligned with the Administration who would have immediately opposed him.
It’s an odd time to be alive, regardless of your side of the aisle.
California has had an infection rate below the WHO guidelines. California has more infections and deaths because they have the same population as Florida and New York combined. You confuse absolute numbers with rates, but I get it. Math is hard! Let’s go shopping, Malibu Stacy!
I’m here working at the present. Dodging golf carts and senior trikes on the road. Restaurants are packed. Bars are overflowing. I just shake my head as I drive by and order door dash in my room as I try to stay as stealth as possible. The level of mask compliance is the worst now of any state I have seen in the past two months. And this includes places like Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky etc. DeSantis has traded tourism for lives. Period. Even just a simple mask mandate would help (cue the mask deniers below) but refuses – and even bans local areas from issuing fines for their own.
Bottom line? DeSantis would deserve it for being a Trump a$$ kisser. I hope Biden does it. It’s time to be dirty with these scumbags – as after yesterday we are seeing that reasoning is impossible.
Stay in your hotel room and don’t take your mask off. Death lurks around every corner in Florida.
Just take a look at the average age in some of these places here and yeah, it does!
Biden should seek authority to limit movement between states as well ad within areas of a single state. Run it through the courts and get an answer – yes or no. There are nine people with final say on an absolutely critical question that impacts management of most US public health measures. How far do executive branch emergency powers extend? That Team Biden wants us to believe they are serious about COVID but won’t test the question suggests their response is mostly political or utterly incompetent. Trump was a clown. Biden is simply incompetent.
Nice work as usual Kyle.
Every time I land in New York and run into the poor guardsmen who have been stuck with the dirty job of handing out forms for the NY quarantine I’m reminded of the fact that travel bans and quarantines have with rare exception (Like Australia and NZ to name two) have been utter failures at stopping the spread of this disease.
Especially when Air is the only mode of transport you intend to in any way restrict its a complete waste of time and effort.
Interesting. Because the Caribbean is reeling right now from cancellations. All because of a simple Covid test requirement both ways and the extra hurdles. You speak as a person whose job relies on Biden not creating barriers to flying…so…ya know…just saying. Not the best source?
It may not do “anything” from a certain viewpoint to stop those who say they don’t care and will still drive. But, in the end, it would result in tens of thousands of cancellations of those who say, “I don’t want to deal.” Thereby reducing non-essential ways of people having an easier time to get from point A to point B. Thereby reducing what is highly probable otherwise to be another wave of infections in the Sunshine State, and thus elsewhere.
The bottom line is, Americans are spoiled. They won’t listen. But if you give them simple hurdles they give up. Because they also don’t want to work for it. We don’t need NZ style restrictions, just optics…that’s enough for us to curb the families of 8 packing a plane to Hawaii as if it’s 2019.
Oh, and, well, DeSantis deserves it. But that’s another point.
Travel restrictions, including border closures, could have worked for the USA.
Unfortunately the real failure was in contact tracing , mandatory isolation, enforced penalties and , far from least, credible leadership from the WHouse.
President Biden will soon sort out the ratbag remnants of trumpism…
That’s right ignoring science will get us out this mess. Maybe it’s best to have everyone make a judgement call and we’ll be spinning around chasing our tails…entertaining but not productive. Keep listening to someone who refuses to read and can’t speak or write.
Wow what a piece of work some of you Liberals are!!! (Stuart/..TOM…/Debit/etc voting for a guy with Dementia…. Genius……
dee…you voted for an all-time historic loser (lost the House, lost the Senate, lost the Presidency, never got within sniffing distance of winning the popular vote, represents 50% of all impeachments in US history)…keep being proud of that