Restrictions Ease in U.S.; No Lockdown for France: Virus Update
Bloomberg 2/4/2021 Bloomberg News
(Bloomberg) Dozens of U.S. states are releasing vaccines left over from a federal initiative for nursing homes, increasing supply for other eligible people like essential workers and seniors. New York City hospitalizations surged after the snowstorm, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Around the U.S. restrictions are lifting as the outbreak eases.
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Wisconsin’s governor issued a new face mask order immediately after the legislature repealed his earlier one. Texas set a daily record for vaccinations.
The Bank of England forecasts that the U.K. economy is heading for a powerful rebound as a consequence of the government’s aggressive push to vaccinate its citizens. France said a new lockdown is not justified at the moment.
USA TODAY
American Airlines warned employees Wednesday of possible furloughs in April, saying COVID-19 vaccines were not being distributed as quickly as it expected.
The airline employs about 133,700 people in the U.S., according to Forbes estimates. We fully believed that we would be looking at a summer schedule where we d fly all of our airplanes and need the full strength of our team, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom said in a letter to employees obtained by USA TODAY.
Any job cuts would take effect after government payroll aid expires April 1. We will fly at least 45% less in the first quarter compared to what we flew for the same period in 2019, and based on current demand outlook, we will not fly all of our aircraft this summer as planned, the company said.
By Syndicated Content
By Tracy Rucinski
(Reuters) - American Airlines is telling about 13,000 employees that they are at risk of furlough when a U.S. aid package for airline workers expires on April 1, the company said on Wednesday.
Fort Worth, Texas-based American furloughed 19,000 workers when a previous round of government payroll support ended on Oct. 1 but recalled them in December after a fresh $15 billion for the industry through March.
The company had hoped that pandemic-hit demand would rebound by then, but slow rollouts of vaccines and the emergence of coronavirus variants are delaying the recovery, fueling a push by aviation unions for another $15 billion in U.S. payroll assistance.
American Airlines Group Inc. warned 13,000 employees that they could be laid off, many for the second time in six months, saying a much-anticipated summer travel rebound isn’t materializing.
The carrier will send out government-required WARN notices Feb. 5, Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker and President Robert Isom told workers in an email Wednesday. The warning came less than a week after United Airlines Holdings Inc. told 14,000 employees that their jobs may again be in danger.
American Airlines 777-300. Photo/American Airlines
The risk of new layoffs highlights the weak outlook for travel demand amid heavy coronavirus case totals worldwide and tougher government travel restrictions. With vaccination campaigns still in the early stages, domestic airline passengers are at less than 40% of 2019 levels. Foreign travel is at only about 15%, the International Air Transport Association said Wednesday.
American Airlines warns of potential 13,000 furloughs nationally westcentralsbest.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from westcentralsbest.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.