The first flight from the United Kingdom landed at Sea-Tac Airport Wednesday night after growing alarm over a mutated strain of COVID-19.
It’s the first test of Governor Jay Inslee’s new 14-day quarantine order for travelers coming from the UK and South Africa.
Countries all over the world have been enforcing travel bans as the variant strain is spreading quickly in the UK.
It was a sigh of cautious relief for professional runner Brooke Feldmeier, as she arrived at Sea-Tac Airport from training in London, Dubai, and South Africa.
She was on the first flight that’s landed from the UK since mounting fears of the more contagious C-19 vOVIDariant led to travel bans from Britain.
“It’s stressful and I think it puts a lot of fear in people,” Feldmeier said. “I do think it’s something people need to take seriously. Everyone was texting my mom like, ‘OMG is she going to be able to get home?’ so luckily I didn’t have too many problems and I was able to get here.”
While the US government hasn’t imposed any national travel restrictions, in Washington State, travelers from the UK and South Africa are legally required to quarantine for 14 days.
Feldmeier agrees, adding that testing has been a critical part of her journey.
“As long as you’re wearing a mask and staying away from people and getting tested and trying not to travel,” said Feldmeier. “Unfortunately, it’s a big part of my job, and we’re trying to make it to the Olympics.”
The CDC said the mutated COVID-19 variant may already be spreading un-detected here with ongoing travel between the UK and U.S.
America’s top infectious disease expert said mandatory testing for travelers could be the answer—not a ban.
“That’s a big difference than completely shutting off and banning travel completely which is really a rather dramatic step,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s Top Infectious Diseases Expert. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if the requirement of testing is something that is being actively considered right now.”
“We’re just trying to do the right thing so that we can travel and stuff, but I wish I wasn’t traveling,” said Feldmeier.
Governor Inslee hasn’t laid out a way to enforce the restrictions and travelers told KOMO News they did not experience any extra screening.
by Tammy Mutasa, KOMO News Reporter
I've been a weekend filmmaker/photographer in Seattle, Washington, since 1999. I enjoy routine weekend outings to live concerts, as well as my passion for photography and videography in the form of live music videos.
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