Travellers on all commercial aircraft and public transportation, including buses and subways in the United States will be required to wear face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a mask-wearing rule late Friday, January 29th in support of the order given on Jan. 21st by President Joe Biden. Refusing to wear a mask is not an option.
The CDC ruling and document came just a week after President Biden’s executive order, which already mandated masks on certain modes of public transportation including planes and trains, and it mandated masks on federal property.
The full document issued by The Center For Disease Control takes effect just before midnight on Monday night. It makes refusal to wear a mask a violation of federal law, enforced by the Transportation Security Administration and other federal, state and local authorities.
Dr. Martin Cetron, Director of CDC’s division of migration and quarantine signed the order, saying:
“The rule will protect Americans and provide confidence that we can once again travel safely even during this pandemic.”
The new rule applies to all passengers on airplanes, trains, subways, buses, ride-share transfers and taxis. Travellers must wear a mask that covers both nose and mouth while riding and entering or exiting transport. The order also extends to waiting areas such as airports, train platforms and subway stations.
Airlines currently require masks and have banned nearly 3,000 passengers for refusing to wear one. Flight attendant unions have said the federal rule will make it easier for crews to enforce the requirement.
The order exempts children under 2 years of age and people with a disability that makes it unsafe to wear a mask. Airlines struggled with an exemption for safety and stopped allowing it. The CDC said transportation operators can require medical documentation.
Travellers will be allowed to remove masks while eating or drinking.
Not all masks will be considered acceptable. The CDC said some face coverings aren’t good enough to comply with the rule. The don’t-travel list includes face shields, bandanas, masks with exhalation valves and masks that are too big or otherwise don’t fit properly.
For More Information:
The U. S. Travel Association: www.ustravel.org
The US Center For Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/face-masks-public-transportation.html
Brand USA: https://www.ustravel.org/about-us
-Contributed by Mark William Sheehan
.jpg){kind=tracking}