Flight attendants​ fire back after CDC cuts quarantine time

Flight attendants are not pleased with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) decision to loosen COVID guidelines as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly across the United States, per Politico.

After the CDC announced its recommendation to cut the COVID quarantine time from 10 to 5 days, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International President Sara Nelson released a statement expressing airline workers' concerns. According to Nelson, the directive appears to be one that is influenced by the desires of corporate America as opposed to medical professionals.

"We said we wanted to hear from medical professionals on the best guidance for quarantine, not from corporate America advocating for a shortened period due to staffing shortages,” said Sara Nelson.

Although the CDC has insisted that there is a medical explanation behind its recommendation, Nelson notes that it actually aligns with the demands of corporations.

“The CDC gave a medical explanation about why the agency has decided to reduce the quarantine requirements from 10 to five days, but the fact that it aligns with the number of days pushed by corporate America is less than reassuring,” Nelson said.

Also speaking on behalf of flight attendants, Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas Calio also penned a letter addressed to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. Calio urged the CDC to make 'scientifically sound" decisions based on clear data.

“As an industry, we stand ready to partner with the CDC to make scientifically sound policy decisions and work with you to collect empirical data necessary to appropriately monitor any guideline modifications,” Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas Calio said in the letter.

The latest changes came shortly after Delta Air Lines made the initial request for the quarantine time period to be reduced to five days. The airline also argued that the previous 10-day guidance “was developed in 2020 when the pandemic was in a different phase without effective vaccines and treatments.”