WASHINGTON – Railroads have not been immune to the skyrocketing number of COVID-19 cases across the U.S. as the more contagious Omicron variant spreads nationwide.
The number of railroad employees infected with COVID-19 reached its highest point of the pandemic in the week ending Jan. 1, according to Federal Railroad Administration data released on Friday. The previous high was recorded in the week ending Jan. 9, 2021.
Overall, 2,171 railroad employees had contracted COVID-19 in the week ending Jan. 1, while 2,551 were quarantined after being exposed to the virus. Some 824 railroaders tested positive at Class I railroads in the East, along with 746 in the West, 205 at Amtrak, 313 at commuter railroads, and 83 people at short lines and regionals.
Quarantine levels remained below the pandemic peak recorded in the week ending Nov. 21, 2020, which has helped lessen the impact on employee availability industrywide, the FRA data show.
But the total number of infections and quarantines in the rail industry jumped 47% in the week ending Jan. 1 and is up 74% since the week ending Dec. 18.
Those railroad numbers are likely to climb: In the two-week period ending Jan. 6, new COVID-19 cases rose 227% nationwide.
The rising infection and quarantine rates come as Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation already face shortages of train crews in some locations.
Force testing to keep their jobs. Unreliable tests. Of course the case numbers increase. The number of hospitalized is down. Just stating the facts.
Elon Musk – four tests, same day, same nurse, same place: two positive, two negative.
Indiana – A life insurance company’s CEO reports a 40% increase in deaths for people aged 18-64 in 2021, which is 12 sigma. 2020 was apparently normal.
I’ve given you two factual tips of the iceberg. I’ll steer my boat around it; everybody else do your own research and make your own decisions.
Now, what is a good dinner train in striking distance of northern Florida?
Haven’t had the chance myself yet (too busy keeping another railroad running) but there is the Azalea Sprinter running in South Georgia.
PATRICK – COVID is a real disease. The “tests” mean nothing. Nada. The measures to isolate people and put them behind masks have done far more harm than good. The only good has been the vaccine, three of which now repose in my left arm. All the rest is nonsense.
When this is over, we will see the immense harm that the response to this epidemic has done, such as the destruction of education to poor kids in Chicago.
Charles, I believe the whole story is yet to be told. Yes, the disease is real, but the reaction is beyond the pale. Longitudinal studies of the long-term effects would partly reveal the tragedy.
Oh Lordy Lordy Lordy! This topic? If this were a general news site, oh the comments! Let’s just say we were posting on the Chicago Tribune or New York Times or Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A positive test for COVID means little or nothing. The cooties are everywhere. I’ve known perfectly healthy people who test positive, aren’t the leasst bit sick, and no one around them like their family gets sick. BTW I’m talking about my own family, eh? Healthy people sent into protocol (along with their families) because the test says they have the bug.
Take a hundred pefectly healthy people whose fever hasn’t gone over 98.6F during this whole time. Wanna bet a big bunch of them would flunk the COVID test? We don’t know because no one is allowed to discuss that question. Meanwhile half the country is shut down, and inflation is raging, because healthy, productive people are paid to sit at home.
Folks like you making lite of this pandemic are definitely one reason it’s still with us. I fit one who has lost a younger healthy brother and a best friend an damn tired of hearing your opinion!