Delta airlines walks back claim that coronavirus has become ‘ordinary seasonal virus’

After receiving criticism on social media, Delta Airlines has walked back a comment stating that the coronavirus, which continues to account for more than 35,000 new cases per day, has become “an ordinary seasonal virus.”

Public health experts and passengers took to Twitter to fact-check the claim and express their disappointment.

“I don’t care what you think about masking, but Delta’s comment that #SARSCOV2 has transitioned to become an ‘ordinary seasonal virus’ is just bonkers, has no basis in science and is outright misinformation misleading their customers (of which I am one!),” wrote Yale epidemiologist and global health activist Gregg Gonsalves.

Others pointed out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made no such assessment of COVID-19, which has killed more than 980,000 Americans in two years, continues to infect thousands of people daily and is surging again in parts of the country.

Critics also stated that the federal mandate was ended by a judge’s ruling rather than any new medical or scientific developments.

Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and health economist, described Delta’s statement as misinformation and nonsense. He pointed out that new pandemic deaths have surpassed 20 million, and those global deaths are “still incredibly above normal.”

“My source says that Delta did not consult with its senior medical advisor before releasing this misinformation,” he added. “Hope Delta will correct ASAP!”

Jessica Malaty Rivera, who is a science communicator and senior advisor at the Pandemic Prevention Institute, noted that “‘ordinary’ viruses don’t cause 1 million deaths in one country in just 2 years.”

Delta made the comment Monday in an announcement stating that it will no longer require masks, a move several U.S. airlines have made after a federal judge struck down mask mandates in public transportation settings.