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St. Louis Lambert expects spike in travelers during Thanksgiving week even as COVID-19 cases rise

The Transportation Security Administration projects Lambert to have more than 9,000 departing passengers the day before Thanksgiving.

ST. LOUIS — Friday and Saturday marked the busiest days for U.S. airports since the pandemic started with about two million people traveling.

As COVID-19 cases are on the rise, St. Louis Lambert International Airport also expects to see a spike in travelers.

The Transportation Security Administration projects Lambert to have more than 9,000 departing passengers the day before Thanksgiving.

The previous high in 2020 was during the Labor Day holiday with nearly 9,500 passengers. This compares to the lowest point in April when the airport saw 553 people per day.

This is still considerably fewer compared to last year’s holiday with peak days of more than 20,000 passengers.

The airport's spokesperson Roger Lotz said the increase in travelers has been on the rise, with October accounting for some of the strongest numbers.

"Some of our heaviest travel days so far during the pandemic have been most recently," Lotz says.

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Dr. Fred Buckhold, an SSM Healthcare Internal Medicine doctor, said the uptick recently could be based on several reasons.

"I think there's element of everybody's just exhausted by this. It's a holiday when people are used to travel and so I think there's that element too," Dr. Buckhold adds. 

With more foot traffic, Lotz said they're also keeping up with the demand.

 "We are cleaning like crazy throughout the airport," Lotz said.

The TSA is also allowing one oversized liquid hand sanitizer container, up to 12 ounces per passenger, in carry-on bags.

Passengers can also bring hand wipes through checkpoints.

Dr. Buckhold said, even with all the precautions, he believes travelers could still be at risk.

"Anytime you have that where you're breathing the same as somebody else for a long amount of time that that certainly is where I think probably the highest risk. That massive people in the indoor environment kind of still close together, that makes me a little nervous. It seems like something bad is going to happen as a result of that," Dr. Buckhold says. 

Dr. Buckhold recommends not traveling. 

The CDC also issued a warning against traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The CDC's concern is not about the spread of the disease during a flight, but it's the large family gatherings that could spread COVID-19.

Those who decide to fly should pack as much hand sanitizer as possible, bring wipes, and wear an N95 or paper mask instead of a cloth mask, Dr. Buckhold advised.

The busiest days at Lambert are projected to be:

  • Tuesday, Nov. 24 (8,189)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 25 (9,137)
  • Sunday, Nov. 29 (9,772 projected passengers)
  • Monday, Nov. 30 (7,555)

RELATED: If you get a negative COVID-19 test this weekend that doesn't mean you should travel, health expert says

RELATED: CDC recommends Americans don't travel for Thanksgiving amid rise in COVID-19 cases

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