The federal authorities should consider requiring Covid-19 vaccines for domestic flights, the nation’s prime infectious illness professional mentioned Monday.

“When you make vaccinations a requirement, that’s another incentive to get more people vaccinated,” mentioned Dr. Anthony Fauci in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “If you want to do that with domestic flights, I think that’s something that seriously should be considered.”

There is not any indication at this level {that a} vaccine mandate is on its method for U.S. flights. When requested on MSNBC, Fauci, White House chief medical advisor, declined to say whether or not he has made the advice to President Joe Biden.

The White House, when requested for remark, referred CNBC to Biden’s statement to ABC News final week, “It’s been considered,” Biden mentioned, “but the recommendation I’ve gotten, it’s not necessary.”

The travel business, in the meantime, expressed opposition to a vaccine mandate for domestic travel when Fauci made the same suggestion in September.

Already, U.S. passengers should put on masks to board planes and preserve them on for the period of the flight besides when consuming or ingesting.

International vacationers should additionally present proof of vaccination and a unfavorable Covid check with the intention to board a U.S.-bound flight, and in addition put on a masks.

With the omicron variant of the coronavirus spreading quickly throughout the U.S., airlines have canceled more than 2,000 flights since Friday, due partly to outbreaks amongst workers.

Across the nation, omicron accounts for nearly all of new infections, at 73% of recent circumstances as of final Monday. The extremely infectious variant has prompted a handful of states, together with New Jersey and New York, to report extra coronavirus circumstances than in every other seven-day interval for the reason that begin of the pandemic.

A handful of cities within the U.S., together with New York City, require proof of vaccination to attend in-door venues reminiscent of Broadway theaters, sports activities arenas, eating places and health facilities.