U.S. ESTA Travel Pass News

While the LA City Council proposed to lift the mandatory presentation of vaccination certificates when using indoor establishments (reported on the 7th), there is a difference in safety guidelines between LA City and LA County authorities, causing confusion among residents.

First, starting on the 4th, LA County lifted the requirement to wear a mask indoors regardless of whether or not people have been vaccinated throughout the county. Accordingly, there is no need to present the vaccination certificate when entering indoor facilities such as shops, bars, restaurants, gyms, and movie theatres, and wearing a mask at indoor facilities is left to the individual’s discretion.

However, in LA, it is still mandatory to present a vaccination certificate to enter indoor establishments. According to the ‘Safe Pass LA’ program, which came into effect on November 8, last year, the City of LA must present a vaccination certificate or a negative result within 3 days when entering indoor establishments.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles County authorities have lifted the requirement to wear a mask indoors, but some places still require wearing a mask and presenting proof of vaccination.
In the case of school facilities, the mandatory wearing of indoor masks will remain until the 11th, and each school district can set its own guidelines after that. The Los Angeles Unified School District is in a position to maintain it until this semester. In addition, you must present your vaccination certificate to enter the indoor large-scale event halls and medical facilities that can accommodate more than 1,000 people.

Instead of a certificate of vaccination, a negative confirmation of COVID-19 can be presented. Employers are still required to provide medical-grade masks for voluntary use to employees who have close contact with other employees or customers indoors.

Governor David Ige announced on March 1 that the Hawaii Safe Travel Program for Domestic Travelers will end on Friday, March 25.
Beginning Saturday, March 26, 2022, travelers arriving from the continental United States will not need to create a Safe Travel account, show COVID-19 vaccination status, or undergo pre-screening when traveling to Hawaii.

However, passengers arriving in Hawaii on direct international flights must comply with federal entry requirements, which include proof of up-to-date vaccinations and a negative COVID-19 test before travel within one day of travel.

For more information visit www.havaiicovid19.com/travel.

However, the indoor mask requirement in Hawaii remains in effect until further notice.
At the county level, the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii have lifted their state of emergency rules due to COVID-19.

Alaska Airlines has launched a new service they have called “Flight Pass’. Flight Pass has been described as a monthly subscription service that will allow subscribers to redeem up to 24 nonstop eligible trips a year. Not all destinations are eligible for the subscription service booking.

Subscribers will be able to choose from two annual plans starting at $49 per month. The standard “Flight Pass” for $49 per month requires members to book their flights 14 days in advance while the ‘Flight Pass Pro” will start at $199 per month and will allow for same-day booking up to 2 hours before departure.

Alaska Airlines states that subscribers will still be required to pay airport fees and government taxes upon booking in addition to the monthly subscription fee. The subscription has been reported as an auto-renew service and will automatically renew for a further 12 months if not canceled by the subscriber.

CEO for Delta Air Lines Ed Bastian submitted a written request to Attorney General Merrick Garland last week again urging the Justice Department to prosecute and ban unruly passengers.
The short answer response was posted on Tuesday.
“The Department of Justice continues to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of those involved in criminal activity that threatens the safety of passengers, crew and crew,” Justice Department spokeswoman Joshua Steve said in a statement.

“We are committed to bringing those who violate federal law to justice. We will send Delta’s letter to the appropriate department.”
Bastian previously requested a no-fly list in 2021 and has called for urgent action on Friday, February 4th 2022.

“With the welcome strengthening of law enforcement and prosecutors, we call on you to support our efforts to take much-needed action to create a national, complex and unruly man who disrupts passenger boarding.” According to CNN The copy of the letter seen has a list of flights that prohibit this person from traveling on a commercial aircraft carrier,” Bastian wrote to Garland.
“These measures will help prevent future accidents and will serve as a strong symbol of the consequences of commercial airliners not complying with crew instructions,” Bastian’s letter read. – The letter was initially reported by Reuters.

President Joe Biden stated in October that he had directed the Justice Department to respond to the growing violence on planes after reports of passengers threatening airline workers in protest of the face-mask mandate.

In late October 2021 Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that the passenger list for a federal ban on jets “must be on the table.” An existing list of federal bans is used to combat terrorism.

“Bullying, insulting or even disrespecting flight attendants is absolutely unacceptable,” Buttigieg told CNN’s Dane Bash.
On Tuesday, Delta Air Lines removed two rude and unruly passengers from Flight 1582 departing from Fort Lauderdale to Atlanta.
“Delta will not tolerate rude behavior at the airport and during flight because nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and crew,” the airline said in a statement related to the accident.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration 2021 was the worst year on record for aggressive passenger on aircraft behavior in the U.S.
As of 31st December 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration had filed as many as 5,981 reports of insurgent passengers. Of these 4,290 were mask-related incidents.
It has been just over a year since the Federal Aviation Administration issued a zero-tolerance policy for unruly passenger behavior which bypassed warnings or consultations and led directly to penalties that include hefty fines and jail time.

The policy, sparked by the mask incident and violence on Capitol Hill, was due to expire in late March 2021. It extends at least until the federal mask order is lifted.
As of February 1st this year there were 323 reports of unruly behavior by passengers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Of these 205 were related to the use of masks. This year, 73 investigations and 26 enforcement proceedings were launched.
“While unruly passenger accidents have fallen by about 50% from their record levels in early 2021, there is still a lot of work to be done,” the FAA wrote on its accident-tracking website.

The crisis in New York’s Broadway theater district, which has resumed performances after a year and half shut down due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), continues. The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 17th that Broadway theaters were experiencing a record decline. According to the New York Times, in the first week of January, Broadway theaters occupied only 62% of the seats. This is the lowest figure since theater artists went on strike in 2003.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak in January 2020 Broadway theater audience share reached 94%. The season’s year-end box office was also confirmed to have halved. It was estimated that at Christmas, the year-end and New Year’s holidays, the most visited by the public of the year, Broadway theaters earned $40 million (about 47.7 billion won) in revenue. This is less than half of the $99 million (about 118 billion won) recorded in the same period before COVID-19. There are popular musicals that fill the audience, but the NYT explains that the box office is no longer what it used to be.

In the case of Hamilton, which is currently the most popular on Broadway, the price of premium seats before Corona 19 was as high as $847 (about 1,010,000 won) but has recently dropped to $299 (about 350,000 won). The price is said to have been adjusted to reflect audience demand. As a result, more and more theaters are offering a medicinal prescription for shortened performance schedules. A significant portion of the production cost, including remuneration of actors, performers and staff, is invested every time a play is staged, but due to shrinking audiences, it is impossible to make ends meet. Recently, performances of six pieces, including “Don’t Be Proud,” “Diana,” and “Jagged Little Feel,” ended ahead of schedule.

In addition, it was decided to resume performances from June after the temporary suspension of performances of three works, including “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “A Girl from the North”. Accordingly, by the end of this month, the number of theaters with lights on the stage will be reduced to 19 of the 41 theaters on Broadway. “This is the worst box office I’ve ever seen,” said Jack Birtle, president of the Zoo Jamson Theatre, which operates five theaters on Broadway.

The US Department of Commerce has identified and declared export controls that threaten national security. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the Department of Commerce announced on the 24th that it has finally selected 27 foreign companies, including 12 Chinese companies, as well as Japanese, Pakistani, Singaporean and Russian companies, as companies in breach of US law. national security or foreign policy. Commerce Minister Gina Lamondo said in a statement that “trade should promote peace, prosperity and decent jobs and should not pose a security threat.” It can prevent them from contributing. ” “The Department of Commerce will effectively use export controls in the interests of national security,” Lamondo said.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, eight Chinese companies subject to the restrictions have been placed on a checklist to protect quantum computing and encryption technologies to develop anti-stealth and anti-submarine weapons. The companies were involved in modernizing the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) and in securing weapons for which the United States acquired the original technology, the Commerce Department said. 16 companies have been chosen to regulate ballistic and nuclear missile activity developments. The Chinese company Korrad Technology has been named on charges of selling cutting-edge technology to Iran, including a North Korean ghost company. Companies subject to this regulation are prohibited from exporting or re-exporting all goods subject to the Export Control Regulations (EAR) and are required to obtain permission to handle these goods. As expected, China reacted sharply. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhao Lijian (趙立堅) said at a regular briefing on the 25th, “The United States has generalized its national security concept and has abused its national capacity to put pressure on Chinese companies.” It is a ruthless destruction of the international order and economic and trade order and seriously threatens the global industrial supply chain. ”

“China is strongly opposed to the measures taken by the United States and demands that the United States immediately correct its mistakes,” he said. “The announcement of the new sanctions list by the US Department of Commerce is incompatible with the general perception of the leaders of China and the US,” said Suh Ting, spokeswoman for the Chinese Department of Commerce in a weekly briefing. This is not conducive to the recovery of the global economy” he said.

Since the inauguration of the Biden administration, the United States has stepped up comprehensive pressure on China, with a focus on international cybersecurity cooperation such as Russia. The Commerce Department is currently drafting separate regulations requiring US companies, or companies that sell US-made products, to obtain Bureau of Industry and Security approval when exporting technology and products that can be used for cyber-related malicious activities, such as hacking and surveillance of citizens.

US President Joe Biden expressed concern regarding the ongoing rising oil prices. As the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) countries refuse to increase production, they even tinker with the map to release the Strategic Oil Reserve (SPR). The situation is so urgent. According to the Financial Times (FT) on the 11th, the likelihood that the Biden administration will supply SPR supplies to the market has increased. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) price climbed above $ 80 in more than a month after hitting $ 80.52 on the 11th of last month for the first time in seven years. Bank of America (BoA) warned that “if a cold wave hits this winter, global oil demand could rise to 2 million barrels a day, pushing the price of oil to $ 100 a barrel.” The FT analyzed that the US government has few ways to lower oil prices other than issuing SPRs.

In fact, in a recent letter to President Biden, Democratic senators called for “using everything, including using the SPR, to lower gasoline prices.” US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm also said: “About 613 million barrels of SPR is a tool to use.” 2011 was the last time the US-supplied SPRs to the market. When the civil war broke out in Libya, the oil price surpassed $ 100 a barrel due to supply disruptions. Former President Barack Obama has partnered with the International Energy Agency (IAEA) to release 60 million barrels of oil through the United States. However, the problem is that even if the SPR is released, the effect is likely to be short-lived. In 2011, the price of oil fell again, surpassing $100 for the first time in three months.

A federal court that suspended the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine by President Joe Biden dismissed the federal government’s appeal and upheld the original ruling. If the court ruling remains unchanged, the Joe Biden administration’s plan to contain the spread of the virus by stopping the spread of the vaccine ahead of winter is expected to be disrupted. According to the Associated Press and AFP, the 5th US Federal Court of Appeals announced on the 12th that it will uphold the existing decision to suspend the federal government’s mandatory vaccine orders.
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ordered more than 100 private businesses to vaccinate their employees by January 4 next year on the 4th. If you are not vaccinated, you will be tested for COVID-19 every week and wear a mask while working. A group of companies and state governments such as Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Utah have filed injunctive relief petitions in court.

The 5th Federal Court of Appeals granted their applications on the 6th of this month and rejected them on the same day after the US Department of Justice and the Labor Department filed an objection. In this decision, the court ruled that the government decree on compulsory vaccination went beyond the powers of the executive branch. The court stated: “This places a serious burden on the freedoms of those who are forced to lose their jobs if they are not vaccinated. The court concluded that the existing suspension of execution was in the “public interest”.
In the United States, at least 27 states have filed appeals in six federal appeals courts since OSHA announced the vaccine would be mandatory. The federal government maintains its position that there is no reason to refuse vaccinations pending a court decision, arguing that the cases should be combined and tried in one court.

Pfizer, a US pharmaceutical company, announced on the 5th (local time) the results of a clinical trial that the COVID-19 drug it is developing is very effective in preventing serious illnesses, including hospitalizations and death. This is the second time since the lightnupiravir of the multinational pharmaceutical company Merck & Company (MSD) announces the results of clinical trials of a drug for the treatment of COVID-19. According to local media outlets such as Reuters and The New York Times (NYT), Pfizer said in a press release the same day: “Antiviral pill formulation has been found to reduce the risk of infection if administered within three days of onset of symptoms. It also reduces hospitalization or death by 89%, ”it was reported. This oral COVID-19 drug, which is slated to be called Paxloid, is three pills twice daily and is taken with ritonavir, a medicine for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Researchers measured the drug’s effects on 1,219 COVID-19 patients. The subjects were patients with mild or severe severity with one or more factors for the development of serious diseases, such as obesity or old age.

The treatment group were administered the drug and the placebo group for 5 days. As a result, as a result of treatment within 3 days of the onset of symptoms, 0.8% of patients were hospitalized and no one died within 28 days of treatment. During the same period, the hospitalization rate of patients receiving placebo was 7% with 7 recorded deaths. The trial revealed similar results when administered within 5 days of the onset of symptoms. In the treatment group, the hospitalization rate was 1% and there were no deaths, while in the placebo group, the hospitalization rate was 6.7% and 10 deaths. As a result, Pfizer said that after taking the drug for 5 consecutive days, the risk of developing serious illness and hospitalization or death decreased 89% compared to the placebo group after one month.

Pfizer Program Director Anellies Andelson said: “The drug was validated five days after the patient was treated,” he said. However, there were no specific explanations such as symptoms and ease, except that side effects of treatment were observed in about 20% of participants in both groups, respectively. “Because the trial results showed that the treatment was very effective, the advisory group recommended that the trial be stopped early,” Pfizer said. Reuters reported that the announcement of Pfizer’s clinical trial results “surpasses the previously reported efficacy of molnupiravir.” It was announced last month by Merck that the clinical trial results indicated molnupiravir could reduce hospital admissions and death from COVID-19 by half.. Merck has filed an FDA approval for lightnupiravir and is scheduled to meet with reviewers later this month. On April 4, the UK approved the use of lightnupiravir for the first time in the world.

US White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said at a White House briefing on 26th (local time) that “the consultations between the top representatives of North Korea and the United States have been very productive and constructive” regarding the announcement of the end of the war. It could have been different,” he said. This is the first public US comment on the actual end of the Korean War and has been interpreted to refer to the fact that the two countries are cooperating on North Korea, but there is a point. Opinions between the two countries. In fact, the Biden administration has rarely commented publicly on the situation after a series of related discussions in recent years. This is in contrast to the South Korean government’s statement that “the US’ understanding of the end-of-war declaration has deepened.” US Special Representative for North Korea Seung Kim, who recently visited South Korea, also said, “I look forward to continuing to work with the South Korean side to explore various ideas and initiatives, including proposals for a declaration to end the war.”

On the 27th, the South Korean government announced, “We will continue serious and in-depth discussions on the declaration of an end to the war,” in response to the Biden administration’s reference to “a different point of view” between South Korea and the United States. The United States. In particular, he stressed: “Both countries have a priority place in diplomacy and dialogue with North Korea for full denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, and continue close consultations to this end.” Earlier, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said that the decision of the Moon Jae-in administration to end the Korean Peninsula does not mean legal or structural changes to the current ceasefire system. Declaring an end to the war is a political and symbolic confidence-building measure. Some were concerned about side effects such as that if the declaration of an end to the war were adopted it could negatively impact the existence of the United Nations Command, which is responsible for administering and implementing the Armistice Agreement, and that North Korea might urge the withdrawal of American troops from Korea.