Healthcare

US Ambassador To The UK And State Department Warns Americans: If You Want To Get Home ‘Do It Now’

Published

2 years ago

April 1, 2020

United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Woody Johnson warned Americans in the United Kingdom that if they wished to return to the U.S. to “do it now” as airlines continue to shut down services due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a Tweet posted Wednesday Ambassador Johnson reaffirmed that Heathrow Airport, in London is still open to flights heading to the United States but that could change. As of Wednesday he said employees at the airport are ready to assist Americans trying to get home.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters he is urging Americans who are still abroad and who want to get home to do so “immediately.” He said commercial and government-chartered flights could soon stop due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Americans who wish to return home from abroad should do so immediately and make arrangements to accomplish that,” said Pompeo.

If you are a U.S. citizen and want to fly to the U.S. do it now. Commercial flights are still available but nobody knows how long that will last. The Embassy’s Consular team and the CBP team at Heathrow do incredible work to provide services & assist in repatriating Americans! pic.twitter.com/oycSkQ1AbW

— Chargé d'Affaires Philip T. Reeker (@USAmbUK) April 1, 2020

“If you are a U.S. citizen and want to fly to the U.S. do it now,” said Ambassador Johnson. “Commercial flights are still available but nobody knows how long it will last. The Embassy’s Consular team and the CBP team at Heathrow do incredible work to provide services & assist in repatriating Americans!”

On Tuesday, British Airways announced that it will suspend all flights to and from London’s Gatwick airport amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the BBC. The report came after EasyJet’s suspension of flights when the U.K. government warned citizens to stay put and only travel for essential needs.,

BBC reported that British Airways told its staff members that it was a challenging environment in “unprecedented circumstances.”

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Healthcare

American and Southwest stand by vaccine mandate, despite Abbott’s ban

Published

1 month ago

October 13, 2021

Staff Writer

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are still planning to comply with President Biden’s executive order regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The order requires all their employees to be vaccinated by Dec. 8t. As a result, they will be ignoring Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s ban on vaccine mandates.

Folks, vaccination requirements work. pic.twitter.com/XuBsOQxGaN
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 9, 2021

Abbott announced his own executive order, effectively banning mandates even from private employers, on Tuesday. “In another instance of federal overreach, the Biden Administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten Texas’ continued recovery from the COVID-19 disaster,” Abbott said. “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced.”

Yet both airlines are requiring their employees to be vaccinated by Nov. 24. This comes despite Southwest’s impromptu cancellation of over 2,000 flights over the weekend. At the time, the airline blamed the cancellations on air traffic control and weather conditions. However, SaraACarter.com was unable to verify that any other airline had to cancel near as many flights for the same reasons. This has left many to speculate that Southwest actually cancelled flights due to their employees walking out as a direct result of the mandate.

Just got passed this flyer from a Southwest employee #FreedomFlu pic.twitter.com/Q5gXGhxoma
— Handbrake Poso (@JackPosobiec) October 13, 2021

Reporter Jack Posobiec tweeted out a flyer circulating among the anti-vaxx Southwest employees. Currently, they are planning a protest outside of Southwest headquarters next Monday. The protest will be called “Freedom Not Force.”

Southwest told Reuters it “would be expected to comply with the President’s Order to remain compliant as a federal contractor.” In addition, American similarly said Abbott’s order does not change anything.

You can follow Jenny Goldsberry on Twitter @jennyjournalism.