Delta Air Lines is asking the federal authorities to lower the advised 10-day quarantine for fully vaccinated workers who contract “leap forward” COVID infections — warning that the guideline may maybe lead to a staffing scarcity.
CEO Ed Bastian and the company’s medical director wrote to the Centers for Illness Management to plead their case, asking for the 10-day quarantine to be diminished to 5 days by methodology of vaccinated of us with leap forward infections.
They acknowledged in the letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky that after 5 days, affected workers may maybe slay isolation with acceptable making an are attempting out.
In the letter, dated Tuesday, Bastian acknowledged airline staffers are plan to be mandatory workers. As omicron sweeps the nation and pushes positivity rates sharply better — even among those which would be vaccinated — Delta warned that its personnel may maybe shrink to the level of affecting air provider if the 10-day quarantine policy remains in field.
“Equivalent to healthcare, police, fire, and public transportation workforces, the Omicron surge may maybe just exacerbate shortages and form critical disruptions,” the letter acknowledged.
Moreover, the Delta executives argued of the 10-day steering: “This steering changed into as soon as developed in 2020 when the pandemic changed into as soon as in a definite portion without efficient vaccines and therapies.”
As Omicron quick spreads right thru the country with a 25 to 50 percent better an infection price than outdated iterations of the virus, Bastian advised that Delta would “companion” with the CDC to possess recordsdata on leap forward conditions, if the steering is changed.
About 90 percent of Delta’s staff are vaccinated, Bastian acknowledged.
Other airline executives came under fire this month for suggesting to Congress that cowl mandates on airplanes are pointless.
“I deem the case is extremely trusty that masks don’t add mighty, if the relaxation, in the air cabin atmosphere,” the CEO of Southwest Airlines, Gary Kelly, told lawmakers on Dec. 15. “It is very safe and very fine quality in contrast to any other indoor environment.”
American Airlines chief govt Doug Parker acknowledged he agreed with Kelly.
Shortly after the congressional listening to, Kelly examined sure for COVID, a spokesperson for the airline confirmed.