Up until now, the federal mask mandate for airplanes and airports was valid for less than an additional week, through April 18, 2022. There have been a lot of questions about whether or not it would be extended again, and now we know — yep, it’s being extended again, but this time only by around two weeks, in order to monitor an uptick in cases.
In this post:
Biden to extend mask mandate until May 2022
The federal transportation mask mandate in the United States has just been extended by a further two weeks, through May 3, 2022. As it’s described, this is intended “to monitor for any observable increase in severe virus outcomes as cases rise in parts of the country,” and this decision was “made out of an abundance of caution.” For context:
- All airlines in the United States started requiring masks in 2020, within a few months of the start of the pandemic
- When Biden took office in January 2021, he introduced a federal transportation mask mandate, which applied to airlines and airports; while it didn’t have that many practical implications, it ultimately supported airline employees in enforcing a federal law, rather than just an airline policy
- This was initially valid through September 14, 2021, then it was extended through January 18, 2022, then it was extended through March 18, 2022, then it was extended through April 18, 2022, and now it has been extended by a further two weeks
Should the transportation mask mandate be extended?
I’ve been curious to see if the current federal transportation mask mandate would be extended again. I think many of us were expecting this would be the end of it, but go figure it’s not.
On the one hand:
- Case numbers are currently way down compared to the peak that we saw in January, and most importantly hospitalizations are way down, and are at the lowest numbers we’ve seen since the start of the pandemic
- The new BA.2 variant seems to be fairly mild (especially for vaccinated people), and those who had the BA.1 omicron variant seem to largely have protection (and lots of people in the US had omicron, so there should be lots of natural immunity)
- We’re now in spring and headed for summer, so that should help with seasonally controlling case numbers
- We’re seeing more and more countries declaring an end to pandemic-related restrictions, and at some point the United States will likely have to do that as well
- There has been talk about the political benefit of lifting restrictions ahead of the midterm elections later this year, as a way to essentially declare victory against coronavirus (I’m not saying I agree with that, but it is a theory)
On the other hand:
- Even if the United States were to lift its mask mandate for aviation, other countries might not; then again, lots of countries are starting to lift these requirements, and several global airlines no longer require masks
- It will create a lot of confusion if passengers have to wear masks to some destinations, but not others
- Once the mask mandate is eliminated for transportation, it will be hard to bring it back
- We are seeing a mild uptick in cases in the United States
The big thing standing in the way of the mask mandate being lifted is a new variant or an uptick in cases, and of course we’re slowly starting to see that. Then again, at some point it should be about hospitalizations and not just case numbers…
At least the mandate is being extended by shorter and shorter periods each time — initially it was four months, then it was two months, then it was one month, and then it was two weeks. I guess next we’ll see a one week extension. 😉
Bottom line
The federal transportation mask mandate in the United States has just been extended by a further two weeks, through May 3, 2022. I was hoping that there was a light at the end of the tunnel here, but I guess we’re just going to keep going with the “abundance of caution” plan.
To me this is disappointing. We have widespread vaccination available to protect people (yet many people don’t want that), and we also have high quality masks (which people can wear to protect themselves and others). Coronavirus isn’t going anywhere, so I guess by that logic we shouldn’t expect the mask mandate for planes to go anywhere either.
What do you make of the federal transportation mask mandate being extended?
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/18/florida-judge-overturns-cdc-mask-mandate-for-public-transit-planes.html
Follow the science
Americans are not very competent in science. Or education of any sort. Or critical thinking. Or consideration. Or healthcare.
I don’t give a rip why they did it. This really makes me furious. Why the blanket Mandate. 95% of the Country is in a low to medium level of Transmission. END THE FREAKING MASK MANDATE. I really wish they would return it to local control. I’m sick of this back and forth. I’ve done everything with no complaints. After 14 months I’ve had my darn full.
Honestly, who gives a crap anymore. Wear a mask, not wear a mask. I don't wear a mask unless I'm required to. And I don't give a crap if I'm required to or not. Wearing one or not is not a big deal. There are bigger things to worry about in life.
They're asking you to wear a mask. Not to go to war, amputate a limb or give in $1000 from your salary. How exactly does that "limit your freedom"? You're equality not allowed to drive 100mph on the freeway... Limitations of freedom are part of any society that wants to live together in more or less harmony because otherwise we'll go back to the stone age. Does it make sense? Maybe not, but again... How...
They're asking you to wear a mask. Not to go to war, amputate a limb or give in $1000 from your salary. How exactly does that "limit your freedom"? You're equality not allowed to drive 100mph on the freeway... Limitations of freedom are part of any society that wants to live together in more or less harmony because otherwise we'll go back to the stone age. Does it make sense? Maybe not, but again... How does wearing a mask hurt you? Knowing it doesn't hurt or comes to a cost to myself, and it may potentially protect others, I'm glad to help out.
The fact remains. For me it’s the blanket mandate. 95% of the Country is a low or Medium Category.
Sadly it seems we will continue pandering to the most paranoid/fearful elements of society. Common sense rarely leads in the US, and sadly many Americans will blindly obey authority whether it makes sense or not.
I’d like to see US airlines grow a pair and simply quit enforcing this mandate. KLM went on record to say that it disagrees with the Dutch government’s mandate and will no longer enforce it. I was recently on a...
Sadly it seems we will continue pandering to the most paranoid/fearful elements of society. Common sense rarely leads in the US, and sadly many Americans will blindly obey authority whether it makes sense or not.
I’d like to see US airlines grow a pair and simply quit enforcing this mandate. KLM went on record to say that it disagrees with the Dutch government’s mandate and will no longer enforce it. I was recently on a KLM flight and only about 50% wore masks…. I didn’t and it was great.
Well I hope you reap the rewards of your indifference.
Just remember, this is being forced on us by an administration whose leader is senile, who has to have people tell him if he can take questions from the press, tell him who to call on, and needs que cards with answers to "tough" questions. We have more than 2 years left of this. This country is sooo effed. The democrats cannot lose enough seats this fall.
We've already had five years of a senile, cue card-needing leader—we can do with two more.
“They are just following the science.”…Like, it’s alright to go to a hockey game, football game, a music concert, a shopping mall…you name it and you can go to it without a mask now, however, a bus terminal, subway station or an airport are more dangerous than any of the aforementioned rallies…I never did quite understand “the science”.
That is one thing I have never understood.
The problem is we don't have widespread vaccination in the US for Covid-19, only 2/3 of the population received both doses and less than 50 percent a booster. Unless there is a change in public perception of the benefits of vaccination, it's no surprise that thus continues to drag on and on.
A comment like this is disconnected from reality. You are totally brainwashed by the MSM. IE…The vaccines and boosters don’t work to prevent Covid and barely lower risk on overweight for elderly people. They never did work…look at the death totals for 2021 compared to 2020.
The Biden administration is the most incompetent in the history of the USA.
Vaccination has greatly reduced the risk of death and severe illness for the elderly and the overall unhealthy population.
It is true that for younger healthy individuals that vaccination has a relatively meager benefit.
Boosters for the elderly are not a terrible idea. For the young and healthy they are unnecessary.
How many cases were there in 2021 compared to 2020? This is some serious spin.
Please explain this to me….you get vaccinated and boosted. You wear masks and face shields…why does it matter if I do not wear a mask and get vaccinated? You should be protected.
..."lower risk on overweight for elderly people"? That makes zero sense. You people cannot even write correctly.
I’m sorry but at this point I don’t give a rip what happens to the Unvaccinated. It’s their choice. I’m sick of waiting for them to vaccinate. It’s clear that they won’t under any circumstances.
The entire world is loosening up, yet here is “The Man With the Golden Leg Hairs” perpetuating the nanny state here at home.
(Mods, feel free to remove as I’m certain this will offend your leftist leanings.)
Leftist leanings, huh? Gaze upon the comments of some of these stories and tell me that's true.
Wow a bunch of people still upset at masks huh?
Just remember not to take your anger out on your healthcare workers when you can't get an appointment or get your surgery for months on end. Hospitals STILL require masks, we are JUST starting to operate again, and sorry for your 9-12 month wait as we continue to deal with the fallout from COVID.
But I sure hope you all get to travel in full mask-less comfort again soon.
"Just remember not to take your anger out on your healthcare workers when you can't get an appointment or get your surgery for months on end."
Why would we be concerned we the POTUS can walk into the Capitol without a mask on? DOn't you believe that vaccines work?
"Hospitals STILL require masks, we are JUST starting to operate again"
Hospitals have people with severely weakened immune systems. Using a hospital as an...
"Just remember not to take your anger out on your healthcare workers when you can't get an appointment or get your surgery for months on end."
Why would we be concerned we the POTUS can walk into the Capitol without a mask on? DOn't you believe that vaccines work?
"Hospitals STILL require masks, we are JUST starting to operate again"
Hospitals have people with severely weakened immune systems. Using a hospital as an attempt for nationwide policy makes the same sense as adopting hospital infection control policies for private corporations.
We instead have continued working and operating throughout the entire pandemic and currently have a 1-week waiting time for some visits and procedures. So please send me your patients I’ll gladly take them. I have deep N95 mask marks in my face and it now feels idiotic. After the initial wave and further understanding about the ease of spread, we felt that wearing it was not of great effectiveness. Even in the small island that...
We instead have continued working and operating throughout the entire pandemic and currently have a 1-week waiting time for some visits and procedures. So please send me your patients I’ll gladly take them. I have deep N95 mask marks in my face and it now feels idiotic. After the initial wave and further understanding about the ease of spread, we felt that wearing it was not of great effectiveness. Even in the small island that a hospital is, strict enforcement of isolation, masking, sanitization policies is quite imperfect. Planes, restaurants and other places, where the enforcers and the enforced are not even health care professionals, cannot even compare in terms of compliance. And it takes one non compliant individual to change the outcome, and to reduce the already low impact of certain measures to near zero. The magic word ‘mitigation’ then truly becomes meaningless.
I rather feel more offended by some colleagues posting non stop selfies of their heroism in hospitals, relentlessly preaching what was right and wrong, distorting reality as if hospitals were places of peace and quiet before, and as if they had previously signed up for a desk job. Most of our Covid czars indeed worked their entire career on a desk, not in a ward.
As a physician, I could not agree more with everything you said.
It needs to go. U.S. airlines need to thumb their noses (like KL did) and refuse to enforce this health theater BS!
Remove it now
There is no reason to keep it going especially when everywhere else is mask free
If people want to double or quadruple masks, wear a hazmat suit etc that should be their choice. I was looking forward to a mask free trip to Europe next week instead of nazi steward’s enforced mask wearing. I feel bad for the flight attendants but people are sick of this
If you are afraid of Covid then don’t fly
I am double vaccinated and have had Covid.
It only makes sense to remove the mask mandate if the negative covid test requirement for entry to the US is also removed.
Have we not extended mandating people into compliance for vaccines and masks for long enough? We have to learn to live with Covid and the many variants that keep coming... much like the flu or common cold.... Live with it. People need to be responsible for themselves and start acting like adults. We don't need Papa Joe telling us to wear a mask. I honestly thought this would be done and over. Even the Airlines...
Have we not extended mandating people into compliance for vaccines and masks for long enough? We have to learn to live with Covid and the many variants that keep coming... much like the flu or common cold.... Live with it. People need to be responsible for themselves and start acting like adults. We don't need Papa Joe telling us to wear a mask. I honestly thought this would be done and over. Even the Airlines are begging for it to be gone! So now what? It needs to end.
Well if the science tells us we should wait 2 more weeks WHO ARE WE RO QUEDTION SCIENCE. The science on this virus is settled. And everyone knows you can never ever question science
But the science says you can go to a hockey game, everyone yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs, with people within feet of you, and right below you with no mask mandate…but an airplane, with HEPA filters and circulated (that’s new and fresh) air every 3 minutes, is bad…ain’t no science there…only BS…
End the mandate now and stop telling lies.
And after I posted, I reread your post and see that you might have been facetious…my bad, if you were…otherwise, I remain…
The mask mandate helps us ensure the pandemic will last longer by allowing the virus more chance to mutate as it spreads.
What is this nonsense???
Absolutely ridiculous! No where else do you have to wear a mask - stop this control thing you feel you need to hang onto. People are over it - let us live our lives!
No where? Not true. Masks are still required in health care settings.
This is not two years ago when doctors were dying in Italy. There are now vaccines and highly effective anti-virals (90%), and nearly 70% of the U.S. population is vaccinated plus many others have immunity from a previous covid infection. It is time to move on. This is endemic, not a pandemic any more. There are many more important things going on in the world right now like a war with global effects. Let's get some perspective.
Glad to see it - there is no vaccine available for millions of kids under 5, for whom Omicron has had increased adverse effects. As much as people might feel "over it" the pandemic is not.
If YOU feel it’s not over, continue to wear your mask… alone in your car too! So sad people actually think masks work and even more sad to give a child a vacccine you have no idea what the long term effects could be.
Curious please explain how wearing a mask on an airplane while almost no where else in the country (world) does, help millions of kids under 5? The percentage of travelers is nil compared to the rest of the population without a mask. Think about it please.
Go back in your bunker
Kids under 5 have very low risk from Covid. In fact an unvaccinated 4 year old is a less risk of death than a vaccinated 60 year old. It’s also been shown that mask wear does virtually nothing to stem transmission in children.
Riding bikes, swimming in pools, taking car rides are all far more dangerous for kids than Covid is. We let our kids do these things every day with hardly a second...
Kids under 5 have very low risk from Covid. In fact an unvaccinated 4 year old is a less risk of death than a vaccinated 60 year old. It’s also been shown that mask wear does virtually nothing to stem transmission in children.
Riding bikes, swimming in pools, taking car rides are all far more dangerous for kids than Covid is. We let our kids do these things every day with hardly a second thought. There is no reason to continue wearing masks for the sake of the children.
At a certain point the people just need to stop complying in the federal government. Just do not comply. They do not have enough jail cells for us all.
Don't worry, on the other hand they have enough bank accounts to put your money.
So we have an armed mostly right wing population that is now destitute with a clear political enemy?
Problem there is if I did that I’d never be able to get on the Bus to go to work. I have no car.
Not happy, should do away with mask mandate
Did anyone really think Biden and company were going to just let go of their last bit of control easily? We tried to warn you guys.
I was democrat……
Flight attendants seem to be totally over being the mask police. Over the past month I've seen passengers (me included) sit maskless and not a word. This morning the only thing I was "asked" "would you like a refill on your beverage." Ditto for the lounges and airports. I'm sitting in a lounge as I type this no mask on me or just about anyone else.
Maybe this will force flight attendants, airports and lounges...
Flight attendants seem to be totally over being the mask police. Over the past month I've seen passengers (me included) sit maskless and not a word. This morning the only thing I was "asked" "would you like a refill on your beverage." Ditto for the lounges and airports. I'm sitting in a lounge as I type this no mask on me or just about anyone else.
Maybe this will force flight attendants, airports and lounges to become mask police again, but I tend to doubt.
I saw this coming because Fauci the fraud and all his fellow quacks seem to be desperate to bring back COVID again.
I am a moderate Democrat who until a few months ago supported a mask mandate, but things have drastically changed recently in that probably half the country or more has now been infected with Delta and Omicron, and the Pfizer and Moderna pills are now available. Added to the widespread vaccinations, we as a society have to look at moving on and treating covid as endemic like the flu. Politically, Democrats are probably going to...
I am a moderate Democrat who until a few months ago supported a mask mandate, but things have drastically changed recently in that probably half the country or more has now been infected with Delta and Omicron, and the Pfizer and Moderna pills are now available. Added to the widespread vaccinations, we as a society have to look at moving on and treating covid as endemic like the flu. Politically, Democrats are probably going to suffer badly this fall with inflation at the rate it is regardless. But if they continue reinstating mask mandates in states like mine (New Mexico), they are going to get absolutely destroyed this fall. W
Extended 15 days through May 3!
Excellent news
Better be safe than sorry
I'd be fine with the requirements coming off once everyone has a chance to actually get the vaccine. I'm not sure why people just ignore the fact that almost 20 million kids under five are still not eligible to be vaccinated. Once this group has been covered by all means let's start opening things up again.
The lack of a vaccine for kids under 5 isn’t ignored. Quite the contrary, what is ignored is the extremely small risk of severe illness or death in a healthy 4 year old from Covid. A four year old is far more likely to die from a bicycle crash, a car crash, or drowning, than from Covid.
Then you can factor in that there has been exactly zero well run studies that prove masks...
The lack of a vaccine for kids under 5 isn’t ignored. Quite the contrary, what is ignored is the extremely small risk of severe illness or death in a healthy 4 year old from Covid. A four year old is far more likely to die from a bicycle crash, a car crash, or drowning, than from Covid.
Then you can factor in that there has been exactly zero well run studies that prove masks are effective in preventing transmission to or from a child.
Finally you can add the mounting evidence that mask wear for children is harmful from a social and educational devlopement perspective and I come to the conclusion that making kids wear masks is a very poor policy decision.
You're a glorious tool
It's really irrelevant what else a four year old could die of in this instance. The fact is that a large percentage of the country has had the opportunity to protect itself from the worst of the virus and is happy to reopen without offering the same benefits to those with the least control of their lives. While earlier numbers were better for kids newer variants have proven far more pernicious. And masks have been...
It's really irrelevant what else a four year old could die of in this instance. The fact is that a large percentage of the country has had the opportunity to protect itself from the worst of the virus and is happy to reopen without offering the same benefits to those with the least control of their lives. While earlier numbers were better for kids newer variants have proven far more pernicious. And masks have been proven to reduce infection by 3-9%, seemingly small numbers to be sure, but in a pandemic where almost a million people have died it might have saved 30,000 to 90,000 lives. I'd rather have a child be healthy for a year or two until they can get the shot. They will pick up any social skills after they have been vaccinated.
You’re entirely missing the point. We as a society happily let kids ride in cars, take their bikes out, and swim in pools with nary a care. Sure we put on seat belts and helmets, but there is a grand difference between a seatbelt and a helmet than a face mask that is doubiously effective at best.
And let’s be perfectly clear - an unvaccinated 4 year old is at a lower risk of...
You’re entirely missing the point. We as a society happily let kids ride in cars, take their bikes out, and swim in pools with nary a care. Sure we put on seat belts and helmets, but there is a grand difference between a seatbelt and a helmet than a face mask that is doubiously effective at best.
And let’s be perfectly clear - an unvaccinated 4 year old is at a lower risk of death than a vaccinated 60 year old.
Cloths masks have been proven to be totally worthless. Surgical grade masks has a modest effect at best. Yes a well fitting N95 mask offers excellent protection. The catch is there is no truly certified N95 mask for children.
The WHO says don’t mask kids under 6
Studies from Spain show absolutely no difference from the case rate of Covid between ages 5 and 6. Age 6 is where Spain began to require masks.
I also disagree with your 3-9% reduction in transmission. A RTC of masks in Bangladesh found..
“The group advised to wear a surgical mask had a 0.68% risk of COVID, and the group assigned not to wear them had a 0.76% risk of COVID. This minuscule difference — one COVID case averted among 1,250 people”.
And finally, wear masks for a year or two and then pick up the social skills? Are you out of your mind? The toddler years are extremely formative. I would argue that far more harm is being caused my the usage of face masks in this group than the extremely low risk of a seriously bad outcome from Covid.
Long COVID?
An unvaccinated 4 year old is at less risk of severe illness or death than a vaccinated 60 year old.
Your 3-9% number is also way off. A mask RTC in Bangladesh showed cloth masks had zero benefit and surgical masks only prevented one in 1200 cases.
Spain has also shown that children wearing masks does nothing to prevent cases in kids.
And finally a great deal of delvopement occurs during the...
An unvaccinated 4 year old is at less risk of severe illness or death than a vaccinated 60 year old.
Your 3-9% number is also way off. A mask RTC in Bangladesh showed cloth masks had zero benefit and surgical masks only prevented one in 1200 cases.
Spain has also shown that children wearing masks does nothing to prevent cases in kids.
And finally a great deal of delvopement occurs during the very young ages. It is a mistake to believe kids will just catch up in their social development later.
So as long as I am drinking or eating my mask is off. The science is not relevant anymore. I mean is Covid smarter than the ones making the rules? Does Covid really stop spreading when you have food or liquid in your mouth? It is time for the people to stand up for the people! Stop letting people whose pockets are lined tell us what is good for us. Wear your mask if you wish, but don't push it on others.
It's not the scientists and medics who tell you what to do in a global pandemic. Ridiculizing a logical rule doesn't change that. And yes, you should push it on others, otherwise you get people like Jami who think they know better.
There is nothing logical about it at this point. At BEST it is pure fear or paranoia. At worst, and far more concerning, it is a desperate clinging to a desire to control. Your comment speaks to the latter: "you should push it on others" since you think people who disagree with your take on masks need to be pushed to comply when there is no reason at this point.
Wrong. There's no logical nor scientific rationale for this charade to go on any further. There was at the beginning of the pandemic, but no longer. This is just Biden grasping for one more moment of control.
I'm currently sitting in a dusty classroom full of teenagers, no masks, poor ventilation and not a single Covid case. Not one. And no, we don't have the deep cleaning and HEPA filters that airlines have. Heck,...
Wrong. There's no logical nor scientific rationale for this charade to go on any further. There was at the beginning of the pandemic, but no longer. This is just Biden grasping for one more moment of control.
I'm currently sitting in a dusty classroom full of teenagers, no masks, poor ventilation and not a single Covid case. Not one. And no, we don't have the deep cleaning and HEPA filters that airlines have. Heck, they vacuum my room once or twice a year, and there are rodents living here. Seriously.
If we can get by without masks, then so can the average flyer. Wear a mask if you want to, but don't make the rest of us partake in this knee jerk non-science based lunacy in the interests of better safe than sorry. 15 days means nothing and there's ZERO science behind this. Its purely political.
why would you work in an environment where there are rodents and where the room isn't cleaned? Sounds like you need a union, friend.
Honestly, f*ck "an abundance of caution." Anyone who wishes to protect themselves from severe Covid-19 outcomes has countless tools at their disposal, including the ability to continue wearing their own high-quality medical mask or respirator.
If you're still scared, continue staying home—or better, go and see a shrink. The rest of humanity is beyond ready to move on from this.
Went to Europe 2 weeks ago (Amsterdam, Belgium) no mask mandates in the airports or planes (until boarding for US flight...). Its ludicrious that this keeps being extended.
I did, too! Well, only to Amsterdam and I got COVID! I avoided it for two years in the US and as soon as I set foot in Amsterdam, I was infected within a day!
I wonder which airports besides BRU & AMS you went, because on these airports it is still requierd inside airport and any Carrier. Afaik only flying whitin Scandinavia it isn't.
You are absolutly right. I'm Dutch and I can confirm that airside masks are still mandatory at Schiphol/Amsterdam Airport.
Same. Such a difference in how happy people are. Friendly. Best feeling.... Normalcy and rationale thinkers.
The masks are useless working in construction all my life the mask stop no infiltration of foreign material into the lungs if they are medical grade and professionally fit they they could be 50% effective
Ok construction worker
Be smug and condescending all you want, but the fact remains that construction workers and such have done more for society that the all the legions of flabby desk sitting bureaucrats that infest our federal and state governments ever have.
"In a few moments the flight attendants we'll begin our in-flight cabin service. Or as we like to call it, "Mask down, drink up."
"Also, if you'd like to keep your mask off, we kindly ask you hold an empty cup or can for the duration of our flight."
Complete joke
Remove all completely or make everyone wear full hazmat suits and full respirators stop all these brutal contradictions... you can go to leaf gm 15000 people some unvaxed but cant sit on plane 300 people fully vaxed plus zillion other multiple contradictions ...beyond a complete joke look like a bunch of clowns guessing on every rule
I can’t believe that we STILL whine about wearing a mask that can save lives. Maybe you anti-maskers could go live in Ukraine for awhile and see if they’d trade places with you. Lordy, grow up.
I can't believe people still believe that a mask can save their life. I guess it is like getting a vaccine that will prevent you from contracting the virus. So tell me, since you obviously are pro-mask, do you fly? Are you ok with the mask being removed while eating/drinking? Or are you scared you will get Covid?
Or maybe, you could just stop trying to tell others what to do, with your doubtful rationalization, and just worry about yourself. The country would be so much better off in so many ways if people would follow that advice.
"I can’t believe that we STILL whine about wearing a mask that can save lives."
Sorry, but we do not live our lives for the decrepit and those near death.
New regulations and standards should be implemented post haste.
If everyone wore a full respirator, gloves, face shield and a haz mat suit, this would end within a year.
Setting up a decontamination area before boarding may also help. It would not take that long to fog or spray each passenger down.
Easy solution.
What is most bothersome to me is just about everywhere has stop requiring masks and yet since the start of the pandemic airlines, CDC, and Biden Admin have continually tried to convince us how pure the air is on airplanes. Just google Airplane Cabin Air. So which is it? Is the cabin air worse than the air in my favorite restaurant, bar and grocery store or is mask mandates just more control of the people?
It is ridiculous because when you take it off to eat or drink others are exposed if someone has it. If people don’t want to get vaccinated that is their problem and the rest of us should not have to mask up.
My 2 years old never been washed cloth mask is more dangerous than corona will ever be. I am flying tomorrow :)
Let those who want to wear a mask wear them its time to move on
Ridiculousness! Absolutely a waste of time. The UK, all of Scandinavia and Switzerland have got rid of masks. It’s time for Biden to grow up but as we know old people tend to revert to being children again.
Lift the mask mandate and those who still want to wear their masks will do just that.
Ok I just have to say this. As we sit at the airport every 10 minutes we hear the same thing about it is federal law and to follow CDC guidelines on the mask mandate. We are all so sick of the mask mandates and it’s time they go away. All the airports and airlines tell you you must wear a mask the entire time at the airport and on a flight. I find it...
Ok I just have to say this. As we sit at the airport every 10 minutes we hear the same thing about it is federal law and to follow CDC guidelines on the mask mandate. We are all so sick of the mask mandates and it’s time they go away. All the airports and airlines tell you you must wear a mask the entire time at the airport and on a flight. I find it very funny that there is one certain airline that allows connecting flight customers to stay on the planes before the next flight leaves and the plane doesn’t get cleaned at all. But there are other airlines that you can’t even get off the plane before they are cleaning them. The mask honestly serves no purpose. I was on a flight last week a gentleman next to me openeda breakfast sandwich and I smelled it when the gentleman to my right his body odor was so strong I can smell it through my mask. Now thin tell me how the mask are working to keep anything out . it’s past time to take off the mask and get back to normal.
Apparently you have a crappy mask
As a frequent Air traveler most of the people I talk with are done with the mask mandate. NY schools lifted it so there is not a reason to wear something that does not work. JFK, MCO, ORD there is not a mention of not wearing it. There is no scientific evidence that supports that it works. We need to carry on with life. The focus is on the mask when Joe does other things to make life miserable.
I think it is ridiculous
I travel every week and to take the mask off to drink water or eat then put it back on then rake it off again then put it back on again
Just like everything else the past two years
If it doesn’t make sense it doesn’t make sense.....
But most people don’t travel like I have the past two and a bake years so they don’t realize how ridiculous things have been
Adult complaining about the simple act of wearing a KN95 mask.
You are not being logical. The mask never worked. We live in a country that takes Freedom’s away. People traveled by plane all the time and we were fine. Go be a spineless individual. Go support the most stupid person ever who was installed like a toilet who does not make good decisions at all
But masks did work and continue to work. Look,. I am ready to stop wearing them, but the facts show they work.
Please send a link to all the studies that show how they worked well.
They work now because a large portion of people are vaccinated. If you want to be faithful to your mask, but if you read the comments and observe the daily activities of society outside an airplane, most people are over it.
A well fitted N95 works to protect the wearer.
On a population level to date all available research shows that cloth masks have no affect on transmission rates and surgical masks have a very meager affect.
So in conclusion there is no reason for a continued mask mandate. I’d you want to wear a mask (a N95 would be best) by all means go ahead. You don’t need anyone else to do so.
The people who make a big deal out of wearing a mask are the same ones who have faces that really should be half-hidden for the benefit of everyone. The ugliness of the outside matches the inside. Being protected from you diseased folk AND I don't have to see whatever you have going on up there? Win-win.
SCIENCE!
Oh my God, so many here haven't gotten the memo: cloth masks don't help. You can write freak-out comments about how many are dying and oh my God it's the end of the world, so wear a mask - yet one thing has little to do with the other (https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/24/health/cloth-mask-omicron-variant-wellness/index.html). And having everyone wear an N95 or smaller pore mask is irresponsible, as those masks generally require some training to be worn properly and effectively....
Oh my God, so many here haven't gotten the memo: cloth masks don't help. You can write freak-out comments about how many are dying and oh my God it's the end of the world, so wear a mask - yet one thing has little to do with the other (https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/24/health/cloth-mask-omicron-variant-wellness/index.html). And having everyone wear an N95 or smaller pore mask is irresponsible, as those masks generally require some training to be worn properly and effectively.
Learn to live with COVID, it's here to stay. And learn to live your damn life without fear.
Wearing a KN95 mask is really not a hard skill to master for most people. And it’s easy to say “live your life without fear” when you aren’t immunocompromised and a vaccine actually works for you . . .
Then you can wear the N95 and be protected. You don’t need anyone else to wear a mask. Your N95 mask alone offers you great protection.
it’s easy to say “live your life without fear” when you aren’t immunocompromised and a vaccine actually works for you . . .
Please everyone follow the science
Take this very seriously already been over 2 years
Mask up or don’t fly it’s that simple
Yes Jill, I agree: follow the science. And the science says that cloth masks have an efficacy of less than 10%. So, masking is nothing but theatre. As someone versed in respiratory protection, I've been saying this for nearly 2 years but the CDC started agreeing with me around 2 months ago. The mask rules are useless. That's the science.
Following the science leads to this conclusion.
Cloth masks have zero effectiveness at all. None.
Surgical masks have a very meager ability to prevent transmission. Like one in 1200 cases.
A well fitted N95 offers protection to the user.
So if you want to wear a mask (an N95 would be best) go ahead and do so. No one else needs to be wearing anything for you to be protected.
There is no reason on a population level to mandate everyone wear a mask.
A couple weeks ago the US was averaging 1.5M cases A DAY. There are still 2500+ people dying EVERY DAY…..yeah Covid is over.
#LetsGoDarwin
Good news is that per Occam's Razor, the daily deaths likely heavily over-index on anti-vaxxing MAGA mouth breathers
Although many will disagree, masks should be worn on any mode of transportation where people are crowded together. Let’s face it, COVID-19 hopped a plane to spread itself around the whole world. There are now 2 varients of Omicron and the newest variant Deltacron. Even with the decline of the Omicron strain, there are still 1,400 new cases daily. This is not to mention that the “real” cleaning of airplanes is non-existent. People tend to...
Although many will disagree, masks should be worn on any mode of transportation where people are crowded together. Let’s face it, COVID-19 hopped a plane to spread itself around the whole world. There are now 2 varients of Omicron and the newest variant Deltacron. Even with the decline of the Omicron strain, there are still 1,400 new cases daily. This is not to mention that the “real” cleaning of airplanes is non-existent. People tend to forget that face masks are intended to prevent a disease, not a cold or flu bug, yet those are bad enough. No one should have to put their life in danger on any form of transportation.
If you wear a mask, you don't get it?
So wear one, I will take my chances.
I am here for the comments
I’m fine with the mask extension when flying. Where else does a person sit so close to strangers in confined spaces, knowing nothing about their health? I don’t want to catch a bug, so I don’t see masks as an inconvenience. To each his own, I plan to wear a mask when flying, even when the mandate is lifted!
The amount of whining done by grown adults about wearing a mask is amazing. It’s just not that hard or a big inconvenience. . . . How about everyone behaves like an adult and think about mask wearing as a simple courtesy that protects immunocompromised friends, and family. The simple act of wearing a KN95 or better mask doesn’t have to be that hard. Or do “healthy” people only have the right and freedom to...
The amount of whining done by grown adults about wearing a mask is amazing. It’s just not that hard or a big inconvenience. . . . How about everyone behaves like an adult and think about mask wearing as a simple courtesy that protects immunocompromised friends, and family. The simple act of wearing a KN95 or better mask doesn’t have to be that hard. Or do “healthy” people only have the right and freedom to fly on a plane safely? Maybe we should be supporting people undergoing cancer treatment, or people had an organ transplant and have to take medication that makes them immunocompromised, or anything other such health condition?
And prior to Covid what did these same folks do when in close contact with others? Wear their own mask.
Even now, it is well established that one way masking with an N95 works. It doesn’t matter if the person next to you is wearing a mask or not. If you want or need to wear one, then wear your own.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/01/does-it-help-wear-mask-if-no-one-else/621177/
“ If you’re vaccinated, boosted, and wearing an N95, you’re protected—no...
And prior to Covid what did these same folks do when in close contact with others? Wear their own mask.
Even now, it is well established that one way masking with an N95 works. It doesn’t matter if the person next to you is wearing a mask or not. If you want or need to wear one, then wear your own.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/01/does-it-help-wear-mask-if-no-one-else/621177/
“ If you’re vaccinated, boosted, and wearing an N95, you’re protected—no matter what others are doing”
A tyvek suit and P100 respirator works even better. How far into germaphobia must we go?
Stogieguy7 no one is asking you to wear a tubes suit or a P100 respirator. A simple KN95 mask works and isn’t a big deal for anyone to wear. It’s just not that hard or a big sacrifice to make. Why can’t some people just step up and do the right thing to protect others who need everyone’s help?
Joshua you seem to be missing the fundamental problem of being immunocompromised-Being immunocompromised compromised means that a vaccine doesn’t protect you because your immune system isn’t working and doesn’t produce anti-bodies. Please think before you write something else . . .
I am well aware how the immune system works, it’s part of my job.
Being immunocompromised doesn’t mean your immune system is completely inert. Yes you may not have as strong a response to a vaccination, but it doesn’t mean you will have no reaction at all. And remember there is more to your immune system than antibodies.
And furthermore, as I said before, your N95 offers you excellent protection. This protection is...
I am well aware how the immune system works, it’s part of my job.
Being immunocompromised doesn’t mean your immune system is completely inert. Yes you may not have as strong a response to a vaccination, but it doesn’t mean you will have no reaction at all. And remember there is more to your immune system than antibodies.
And furthermore, as I said before, your N95 offers you excellent protection. This protection is irregardless of anyone around you wearing any type of mask. My cloth mask, surgical mask, or N95 mask won’t make you any safer vs my incovered face.
Hence there is no reason for a population level mask mandate.
I am not paying for a N95 mask nor taking it away from Real medical situations. I have a hard time breathing so I have a excempt that I do not have to wear one from the CDC and FAA. Masks restrict breathing and is dangerous for brain activity. That is 100 percent facts. Immune compromised should not make me suffer because they feel they are more important then myself. The Covid shot is still...
I am not paying for a N95 mask nor taking it away from Real medical situations. I have a hard time breathing so I have a excempt that I do not have to wear one from the CDC and FAA. Masks restrict breathing and is dangerous for brain activity. That is 100 percent facts. Immune compromised should not make me suffer because they feel they are more important then myself. The Covid shot is still experimental and makes people worse. Stroke at 20 it is happening every day from the jab. No thanks I do not want to end up compromised from that
I was REALLY hoping this mandate would end, but I guess the Flight Attendant Unions "won". I've gotten 3 shots, tested dozens of times, stopped my life and business for nearly 3 years, and followed all the rules. These "mandates" aren't even evenly enforced. At MANY airports people walk around maskless, with it on their chin, and no one says anything. I even went through a long TSA line last week and the guy in...
I was REALLY hoping this mandate would end, but I guess the Flight Attendant Unions "won". I've gotten 3 shots, tested dozens of times, stopped my life and business for nearly 3 years, and followed all the rules. These "mandates" aren't even evenly enforced. At MANY airports people walk around maskless, with it on their chin, and no one says anything. I even went through a long TSA line last week and the guy in front of me DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A MASK. The TSA agent who checks your ID and boarding pass said NOTHING. I was shocked. I had just stood in line with the guy for 30 min too. Then he gets to the counter and starts taking off his shows and the other TSA agent finally asked him about his mask, then he had to literally ASK FOR ONE and held up the entire line for 10 more mins. Then on the plane a couple in first class had both of their full noses hanging out, and 2 of the 3 FA's again said nothing, buy the purser asked them to raise their masks and they ignored her. She went around the corner on her iPad, looked up their names, and quickly came back and leaned I'm while yelling their names and told them to PULL THEM UP! They disagreed with hervon the placement, so she then pulled her OWN MASK all the way down, told them sternly to put it up and TOUCHED THE GUYS NOSE WITH HER FINGER and said that's not good enough! Her power trip was amazing to witness, none of us could believe it. If it's going to be a rule: then enforce it everywhere. But at this point in the pandemic (and especially on a plane) it's only theater.
I'm a pilot and I would be happy to educate the AFA Union president on how aircraft pressurization systems work. If you think we wear them one second after the flight deck door closes you are delusional. Fear not, fellow travelers, it's a midterm election cycle and the mandate will be lifted soon so they can declare victory.
Absolute bull.
The flight attendant union president is a mask zealot.
FAs I speak to want it gone yesterday.
Follow the "science", whoops I mean political science that is...
Pretty sure this is being driven by the flight attendants unions...?
nope just the AFA International president who hasn't flown at all during the pandamic and has no idea . Flight attendants are over it and want it gone.....
Sadly there are a lot of people who want masking to continue forever! And along with that, it is so troubling that one man who clearly has dementia is controlling all the rest of us by forcing us to wear this filthy face diaper symbol of his political party. Not my party. Not my president. Not my scamdemic.
Your president withheld defense dollars to Ukraine over a bribe, and spent 4 years cozying up to Putin (and is doing so as recently as this week). Stay Proud, Girl.
Your presidents son is apparently the worlds greatest artist, and also qualified to hold a high paying executive position at a Ukrainian gas company during his fathers tenure as Vice President. What a talented man
So I can go to a state of the union or super bowl but can’t fly with out a mask. I always voted Democrat. I’m done.
It's the flight attendants & their union. They are pushing really hard to keep these mandates.
Why? I’m sure they don’t like wearing them all day. If they want to wear them, wear them. I live to 1000, I will never understand this mask mandate.
Thank goodness you have come to your senses! Welcome to the club!
Not to mention that nearly all of the studies that have been done on masks, show that they are useless against transmission except for an N100 respirator.
Not to argue that the masks should continue, but you are factually incorrect. Masks do decrease transmission in most every study of masks vs no mask use. In the setting of "source control" they do work to significantly decrease and slow transmission.
Where they fail is personal protection; N95 with excellent protection to the wearer, surgical masks with modest (at best) and cloth as almost useless.
The issue is whether they are needed if the...
Not to argue that the masks should continue, but you are factually incorrect. Masks do decrease transmission in most every study of masks vs no mask use. In the setting of "source control" they do work to significantly decrease and slow transmission.
Where they fail is personal protection; N95 with excellent protection to the wearer, surgical masks with modest (at best) and cloth as almost useless.
The issue is whether they are needed if the incidence and transmission rate is so low (like it is now) that they are no longer needed nor justified
There has been no strong evidence produced to show than any masking mandates or wear by the population at large has had any affect on preventing Covid spread.
In fact the only randomized clustered control trial performed proved that cloth masks had zero efficacy and surgical masks had at best a modest effect. That was in a population with zero prior infection and zero vaccination. When you factor in preexisting immunity of one form...
There has been no strong evidence produced to show than any masking mandates or wear by the population at large has had any affect on preventing Covid spread.
In fact the only randomized clustered control trial performed proved that cloth masks had zero efficacy and surgical masks had at best a modest effect. That was in a population with zero prior infection and zero vaccination. When you factor in preexisting immunity of one form or another the effects of masks will be even less.
Only a N95 will do. Yet those are not the masks mandated. Therefor the only conclusion that can be made is that mask wear is government required hygiene theater.
“ But, one takeaway that I thought was indisputable was this: if you recommend a mask—don’t recommend a cloth one.”
https://vinayprasadmdmph.substack.com/p/why-do-we-have-to-lie-about-the-results?s=r
Sorry Joshua, no; Dr Prasad (in your reference) seems to not have a grasp of all the studies out there. If you are talking about the Bangladesh study, it did show efficacy in masking.
Many other studies that mask deniers quote looked at effect of covid rate on the wearer, not the on a population as a whole. Cohort studies of mask vs non mask mandate settings and observational mask wearing vs non masking...
Sorry Joshua, no; Dr Prasad (in your reference) seems to not have a grasp of all the studies out there. If you are talking about the Bangladesh study, it did show efficacy in masking.
Many other studies that mask deniers quote looked at effect of covid rate on the wearer, not the on a population as a whole. Cohort studies of mask vs non mask mandate settings and observational mask wearing vs non masking settings have consistently demonstrated lower transmission and incident rates. Sorry, but it has been shown to modestly slow or decrease transmission rates. The point of this is to decrease the abruptness of outbreaks and modestly decrease case numbers.
Mask mandates are not put in place to protect the wearer, but to decrease transmission to the group.
So hygiene theater is not the only conclusion. It does work, and works best if you do it correctly with the right masks. The issue with mandates is: Are they justified based on current incidence and transmission rates. I personally argue that at this time, the answer is "no", or at least getting VERY close.
So yes- you are absolutely correct that when considering protection to the WEARER, N95 (or better) is your only reliable protection (although we could get nit- picky because surgical masks do actually provide modest protection to the wearer, but dramatically less than an N95, but if you're that worried, why bother with a surgical mask- do an N95!). And yes, I agree cloth masks are pretty much useless
The observational studies are deeply flawed as they are trying to compare populations with multiple interventions happening at the same time, with populations who are all very different. Varying rates of compliance, vaccination, and other non-pharma interventions. Differing pandemic trajectories also influence results; many of these observational studies cherry pick their data at a single moment of time.
Dr Prasad gives a very excellent explanation here why the observational and retrospective mask mandate studies...
The observational studies are deeply flawed as they are trying to compare populations with multiple interventions happening at the same time, with populations who are all very different. Varying rates of compliance, vaccination, and other non-pharma interventions. Differing pandemic trajectories also influence results; many of these observational studies cherry pick their data at a single moment of time.
Dr Prasad gives a very excellent explanation here why the observational and retrospective mask mandate studies are almost always worthless. There are far too many confounding variables to make an actual informed conclusion.
https://vinayprasadmdmph.substack.com/p/a-new-health-affairs-paper-proves?s=r
yeah this extension after extension is ridiculous and needs to stop. i was super excited for my trip to vegas april 5th and not wear a mask them bam they screw us again. its time to end this and get on with our lives. if you want to wear one go for it but dont punish me i am healthy and well so cant give you what i dont have
Spent a long weekend in Florida. The only time anyone wore a mask was in the airport and on the plane. Someone needs to tell these morons it's over. It's a shame we give these people so much control over our lives.
This is ridiculous!!!! So freakin over it!!!!! No one is wearing the proper masks on planes let alone in airport!!!!!! Flat out BS!!!!!
Downright stupid.....end the mask mandate now
Absolutely ridiculous. I don’t even work at an airport but because the cargo facility is on airport property and under TSA dictates we have to wear them. Yes, our government is run by morons.
Who are we protecting? It certainly is not the fully vaccinated so why cater to the whims of the obstinate Luddites?
Absolutely unnecessary! The air inside aircraft is filtered through HEPA filters every few minutes, much safer than any other inside space on the Planet short of a Biolab. This is about control and nothing else… wake up people.
I wonder how often the HRPA filers are changed. Just sayin'
Understandable but still comes as a disappointment for our situation. Our child is 3 years old, and she has developmental delays, we have been going to speech therapies and the kindergarten has tailored a special education program just for her. While she shows exceptional talent in some fields, she does not communicate much verbally, and she rarely mimic. We have tried for many months to teach/influence her about wearing mask but never been successful. We...
Understandable but still comes as a disappointment for our situation. Our child is 3 years old, and she has developmental delays, we have been going to speech therapies and the kindergarten has tailored a special education program just for her. While she shows exceptional talent in some fields, she does not communicate much verbally, and she rarely mimic. We have tried for many months to teach/influence her about wearing mask but never been successful. We decided not to force her about it. There are already so many other things that she is struggling and we can also see that she is making great progress in some.
She holds dual citizenships from both USA and Sweden, however she has not been able to fly to USA to her own home for nearly 2 years. I am really hoping as the board vaccinations and maybe the US can lift the mask mandate (I think majority of us will voluntarily wear a mask on public transportation, even being fully vaccinated), or at least change to lower age limit of such mandate to 6 years old, as here they do in Europe.
Well not expected. What gets to me are the number of people walking around the airport (and I'm one of them) mask less and NO ONE says boo. I was sitting at ORF yesterday and half the passenger were sitting mask less and the airport police didn't say a word to anyone. Same for MIA, DCA, CLT, DFW, IAH and some others. In some cases it's airport workers, including yesterday several ramp workers walking through...
Well not expected. What gets to me are the number of people walking around the airport (and I'm one of them) mask less and NO ONE says boo. I was sitting at ORF yesterday and half the passenger were sitting mask less and the airport police didn't say a word to anyone. Same for MIA, DCA, CLT, DFW, IAH and some others. In some cases it's airport workers, including yesterday several ramp workers walking through DCA free of masks. I'm not complaining. At least I can take the thing off at the AC and in airports.
But I guess Biden has to appease the woke mob. What a joke this has become.
Exactly!!!!! I’m so irritated
I’m ok with lifting masking requirements, but I think keeping (a more relaxed) testing requirement for coming into the country is still a good idea.
Totally agree-the US needs to get rid of the antigen testing for international travel, especially for triple vaxxed travelers which I am one of.
I will continue to wear a mask(N95,KN95) regardless of mandate or not in order to protect myself from filthy whiny MAGAtards, self appointed YouTube educated pseudoscientists, and other freedumb loving weevils who need to wash dey stank ass.
Marvy,
Would you really speak like this to a human being in real life? Would your family be proud of the adult you’ve become? Something tells me the answer would be no.
Marv what grade are you in? My guess would be grade 7 with Special Education programming.
Virtue signal accomplished.
Go ahead and wear one. It protects you from the virus. I don’t understand why you care if other people wear them. You do you, let people live their lives
Sadly branding anyone who does not agree with you as being sub human is not very convincing as an argument.
All data I have read about masking and airplane covid transmission says that the airplane, even without a (useless most of the time) mask, has the lowest transmission rate of any other public space.
So I will drag my knuckles to the airport next week and don my mask dutifully for virtue sharing and hope that normalcy returns without all the vitriol.
Interesting how you choose the argument about someone resulting to name calling since they don’t have a valid argument. You do realize you just made a derogatory comment about the VP and it is based on you not agreeing with her thinking since she is smarter than most that post here, including you.
At this point, who is Joe pandering to? It’s obvious people are done with this. If they still want to wear a mask voluntarily, then great. But let people decide for themselves.
Joe is pandering to people who not only want to wear a mask voluntarily, but also want to see everyone around them forced to wear masks as well.
Well. you know Joe.
Up till yesterday he imported 840,000 Barrels of Russian oil (very ethical) instead of completing the Keystone XL (a stupid anti-Bernie election promise) at a lower price from friendly Canada to the North.
Now he will import the Oil from ENEMY IRAN (so that Iran can finish building their nukes).
Virtue sharing is a virtue with Joe - not known for his brains but smarter than VP
Keystone is a pipeline, not a brand new source of oil. The oil from Canada is already getting here.
Time to remove testing requirement for US citizens to return home!!!! How this is even legal is really puzzling. Stop the madness already.
If you test positive and they won't let you back in just reroute to the Mexican border where ANYONE AND EVERYONE who crosses is welcomed with open arms regardless of covid status. Free airfare to your preferred destination at that point as well.
This country has been dropping mask mandates too early. What should be happening is changing the mandates to require KN95 or better masks to be used. Airlines should include a free KN95 or N95 mask with the price of airfare.
KN 95 masks do nothing unless they are properly fitted. You want to wear a face diaper go right ahead. Leave the rest of us alone.
Better a diaper than a ventilator.
Which, depending on your individual risk (age, weight, co-morbid conditions), ranges from exceedingly unlikely (you’ll drown in a pool first) to very high risk of severe illness and death. Since one way masking with a well fitting n95 works the answer is simple. If you believe you’re at risk wear a N95. If you don’t, then don’t.
For example, in Germany only 2 out of every 100,000 kids ages 5-11 who caught Covid (pre-vaccination)ended...
Which, depending on your individual risk (age, weight, co-morbid conditions), ranges from exceedingly unlikely (you’ll drown in a pool first) to very high risk of severe illness and death. Since one way masking with a well fitting n95 works the answer is simple. If you believe you’re at risk wear a N95. If you don’t, then don’t.
For example, in Germany only 2 out of every 100,000 kids ages 5-11 who caught Covid (pre-vaccination)ended up in the ICU. None died.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.30.21267048v1.full.pdf
So what’s the justification for requiring kids 5-11 to wear masks? They’re at far more risk from auto crashes, drowning, bike crashes… then Covid or MISC
It’s funny because most people don’t have that much trouble with wearing a KN95 mask properly. I guess you can’t figure it out or maybe you’ve confused an actual diaper with a mask? Maybe you also need to go to the Dr to check to see if you need new glasses?
Alex what planet are you living on? Increase the regulations?
It's not just this country, though...
I'm not surprised by the extension, but was hoping it would be dropped. That said, I'm now much more curious as to when we will drop the testing requirement for international travel -- or at least go back to a 72-hour window vice 24. That seems already overdue, given what other countries are already doing.
I agree.
I really, really, don't want to do this anymore. Does this affect foreign carriers flying into the States? I'm fairly loyal to UA but I'm next TATL 20 March and can see BA in my future if they will release me from this nonsense.
It affects all carriers.
I'm mask mandate will continue until most countries eliminate all masking together. And politics will have something to do with it, as always....that's how all of our leaders in two branches get their jobs. As an aside....regardless of when masking is eliminated, I wonder if most Americans will wear a surgical mask or better if they feel a cold or sore throat in the future to help someone else from getting sick. This is one...
I'm mask mandate will continue until most countries eliminate all masking together. And politics will have something to do with it, as always....that's how all of our leaders in two branches get their jobs. As an aside....regardless of when masking is eliminated, I wonder if most Americans will wear a surgical mask or better if they feel a cold or sore throat in the future to help someone else from getting sick. This is one of the things east Asia always did better (at least for the last 20 yrs or so; fwiw east and SE Asians (Japan, China, Korea, Singapore) are mostly terrible at covering their nose and mouth with their hands when sneezing or coughing with). And unlike with most covid variants including wild type, with most cold and flu viruses there is very little time one is asymptomatic, infected, and shedding lots of virus (meaning you know you have it without any test and can act upon it). My guess is this probably won't happen (my body my choice, lol) but I wish it would.
I commute by train and I appreciate it being extended
Well you can go everywhere else without a mask now so I don't get why airplanes and airports need them. I can go to packed concerts indoors or packed sporting events indoors with thousands of people unmasked. I can go to restaurants, shops, schools, etc. without a mask. There really is zero justification for extending at this point. Not to mention that airplane designers have said even without masks, airborne illnesses don't easily spread inside...
Well you can go everywhere else without a mask now so I don't get why airplanes and airports need them. I can go to packed concerts indoors or packed sporting events indoors with thousands of people unmasked. I can go to restaurants, shops, schools, etc. without a mask. There really is zero justification for extending at this point. Not to mention that airplane designers have said even without masks, airborne illnesses don't easily spread inside the cabin because of how the airflow is designed along with hospital grade filtration of the air. It's Covid theater at it's finest.
I disagree with your conclusion. Concerts, sporting event, and restaurants are for the most part places that someone concerned with covid would choose to avoid. Air travel is a very different industry, as there might not be a choice involved. If you have to travel for business or a family emergency, air travel might be your only option. Wearing a mask is a minimally invasive mechanism to ensure the most people have access to it.
I think you’re missing that air travel is far more complex and you’re glossing over major issues. How will it work when many countries require masks at the airport and on the plane and America doesn’t? When you figure that out let me know. Let’s also please mention that it is a requirement to wear a mask while riding in Lyft and Uber which are common forms of transportation…
I don't think it would be particularly complex to say, "no masks required on domestic flights; international flights are dependent on the rules at the destination." Is that too difficult for people?
If it’s not particularly complex then why are masks still ongoing then? Because it is complex… lol
I have worn a KN95 in many high risk environments in the past few months where no masks were worn by others and have not contracted symptomatic COVID or tested positive when I have tested several times. KN95 and N95 masks work very well for protecting YOU from COVID. This is why I’ll still be voluntarily wearing a mask on planes for a while and probably always in the winter moving forward (I have had...
I have worn a KN95 in many high risk environments in the past few months where no masks were worn by others and have not contracted symptomatic COVID or tested positive when I have tested several times. KN95 and N95 masks work very well for protecting YOU from COVID. This is why I’ll still be voluntarily wearing a mask on planes for a while and probably always in the winter moving forward (I have had some bad viruses over the years I likely contracted on planes).
However, I do think it is time for the federal mask mandate to end. Let it go back to a voluntary measure by airlines and return to airports deciding based on city and county rules, like it was in 2020. I’ll be very disappointed if it gets extended beyond Easter…
If they lifted the mask mandate tomorrow, I’d probably wear my mask until the testing requirements for international travel are eliminated. It’s not the virus I fear at this point, it’s the ramifications of a positive test on my work and travel requirements. I agree with others that between vaccines and previous infections, it’s time to move on.
We've moved away from a 'collective responsibility' to a 'personal responsibility' phase of the pandemic. For me, this means that I live my life and do what I see necessary to protect myself and others (which for me means being fully vaccinated and having recovered from COVID, and that's enough). Masks don't work and we've been told countless times that airplanes are safe due to the filtration systems. Time to drop this requirement that in...
We've moved away from a 'collective responsibility' to a 'personal responsibility' phase of the pandemic. For me, this means that I live my life and do what I see necessary to protect myself and others (which for me means being fully vaccinated and having recovered from COVID, and that's enough). Masks don't work and we've been told countless times that airplanes are safe due to the filtration systems. Time to drop this requirement that in my mind does more harm than good.
And frankly I don't care what other countries require. I'd like to see the US be the leader in this relaxation and I'm sure others will quickly follow.
Masks don't work? Fascinating. Any actual data to support your thesis? Any idea why masks are worn in the OR?
Its simple, covid particles are hundreds of times smaller than the holes in masks, also if you have any gap for air its entirely pointless. If masks worked then why has no country been able to stop covid? Why are covid numbers in states and counties with mask mandates the same as ones without? Haha life must be tough being that gullible. Unless you have a n95 that is so tight it makes your face...
Its simple, covid particles are hundreds of times smaller than the holes in masks, also if you have any gap for air its entirely pointless. If masks worked then why has no country been able to stop covid? Why are covid numbers in states and counties with mask mandates the same as ones without? Haha life must be tough being that gullible. Unless you have a n95 that is so tight it makes your face red then masks dont work and even then its only good for a day or so. If you dont have incredible difficultly breathing then your mask isnt doing anything.
Steve, first off, there is no such thing as "hundreds of times smaller". The concept of the words "hundreds of times" is automatically larger, not smaller. Perhaps you mean one hundredth as large. Second, you do know that viruses travel not by themselves but on water molecules from exhilation, the majority of which are stopped by an effective mask, right? Or perhaps you don't know that. Masks as worn in the OR because they work,...
Steve, first off, there is no such thing as "hundreds of times smaller". The concept of the words "hundreds of times" is automatically larger, not smaller. Perhaps you mean one hundredth as large. Second, you do know that viruses travel not by themselves but on water molecules from exhilation, the majority of which are stopped by an effective mask, right? Or perhaps you don't know that. Masks as worn in the OR because they work, greatly reducing the likelihood of germs from the medical staff being transmitted to the patient. Why has no country been able to stop COVID? You've got to be kidding. Which country has gone on complete and total lockdown, with no human-to-human interaction of any kind? That's how you stop a virus from spreading, but no country on the planet has gone to such an extreme measure (because it is not possible, and because it would have a higher cost than a benefit if it were possible). It's fascinating to hear you draw the conclusion that masks don't work in the US when the majority of this country doesn't give two bleeps about wearing them. An environment in which the necessary solution was allowed to be ignored does not disprove the solution, sorry.
No one is saying you cant keep wearing a totally useless and ineffective cloth mask over your face Chuck. By all means keep wearing a mask that is the best part of freedom you can choose to do something or not.
Nobody's talking about cloth masks. KN95/N95 work, cloth masks went out with the previous Administration.
Let's hear it for the libertarians. Well done misrepresenting the argument, Steve. Again, any idea why your surgeon wears a mask?
To prevent the transmission of the normal bacteria that live In the mouth into a surgical wound.
There has been no randomized controlled evidence that proves that any respiratory viral infection transmission in the community can be limited with either a cloth mask or a surgical mask.
There is evidence that one way masking with a N95 is effective.
It would be easier to understand the requirement if the requirement specifically required...
To prevent the transmission of the normal bacteria that live In the mouth into a surgical wound.
There has been no randomized controlled evidence that proves that any respiratory viral infection transmission in the community can be limited with either a cloth mask or a surgical mask.
There is evidence that one way masking with a N95 is effective.
It would be easier to understand the requirement if the requirement specifically required a N95. But the mandate doesn’t. It only requires a cloth mask. A mask that has been proven in community based randomized controlled studies to do absolutely nothing to prevent the spread of a respiratory virus.
"Normal bacteria".... We aren't talking about cloth masks. And when half the country won't be bothered to wear even a mask (of any kind) because they refuse to recognize their actions as affecting other people, there is certainly no way that a specific type of mask could be mandated.
Why not mandate a specific type of mask? If you’re going to go as far as to have a mandate, then mandate the mask that works. At least then you can argue that the mandate is something more than hygiene theater.
And again, since one way N95 wear works, why mandate any mask at all?
Joshua, why not mandate a specific type of mask? You can't be serious. Do you live in the US? Honestly, half of the population of the country went out of their way to avoid doing something that might help others, because "Merica", and that was with the government asking them rather nicely to do it. Turn that request into a detail-specific mandate? Forget it.
"The available clinical evidence of facemask efficacy is of low quality and the best available clinical evidence has mostly failed to show efficacy, with fourteen of sixteen identified randomized controlled trials comparing face masks to no mask controls failing to find statistically significant benefit in the intent‐to‐treat populations. Of sixteen quantitative meta‐analyses, eight were equivocal or critical as to whether evidence supports a public recommendation of masks, and the remaining eight supported a public mask...
"The available clinical evidence of facemask efficacy is of low quality and the best available clinical evidence has mostly failed to show efficacy, with fourteen of sixteen identified randomized controlled trials comparing face masks to no mask controls failing to find statistically significant benefit in the intent‐to‐treat populations. Of sixteen quantitative meta‐analyses, eight were equivocal or critical as to whether evidence supports a public recommendation of masks, and the remaining eight supported a public mask intervention on limited evidence primarily on the basis of the precautionary principle. Although weak evidence should not preclude precautionary actions in the face of unprecedented events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, ethical principles require that the strength of the evidence and best estimates of amount of benefit be truthfully communicated to the public."
https://www.cato.org/working-paper/evidence-community-cloth-face-masking-limit-spread-sars-cov-2-critical-review
@joshua Koch-founded Libertarian think-tank Cato is hardly an unbiased source of information here.
Didn’t bother to look at the paper did you Watson? One of the lead authors, Vinay Prasad, is a UCSF oncologist. He’s a self described liberal who supports many aspects of social change and justice. He’s written over two hundred papers on healthcare policy and ending medical reversals.
In short, no matter where the paper is hosted, it’s an excellent peice of work and hardly a libertarian hitjob.
An ill-fitting piece of cloth over your face is way different than a Level 3 or N95 mask used in an OR.
Direct quote from Fauci:
“There’s no reason to be walking around with a mask. When you’re in the middle of an outbreak, wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better and it might even block a droplet, but it’s not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is. And, often, there are unintended consequences — people keep fiddling with the mask and they keep touching their face.”
Regardless of your view on whether or not masks work, I am quite curious what harm they are actually doing. As you state, "in my mind does more harm than good." What does this even mean? How are they harming you? Lets try and use facts to justify removing mandates that you don't like rather than this nonsense.
The (failed) shoe bomber was 20 years ago.
"Regular" people are still taking their shoes off in the security line...
What happened to 'follow the science' ???
As usual, the US being extremely cautious. Fair point about bringing it back once they do take it away, if they have to. Biden has to be concerned about what message that would send, along with his dismal approval rating. It just came out of the gutter after this Ukraine catastrophe. After this next extension ends in April, if things stay exactly the same way they are today or improve, there isn't much recourse in...
As usual, the US being extremely cautious. Fair point about bringing it back once they do take it away, if they have to. Biden has to be concerned about what message that would send, along with his dismal approval rating. It just came out of the gutter after this Ukraine catastrophe. After this next extension ends in April, if things stay exactly the same way they are today or improve, there isn't much recourse in this charade continuing. Only issue I could see is that the federal mask mandate drops and the airlines can still require it. Much like private businesses currently do.
"Once the mask mandate is eliminated for transportation, it will be hard to bring it back"
This makes no sense, they introduced it and it was easy to implement then and its especially easy now, they hand out blue masks at every door at every airport in the US now.
These masks have been proven to not work. What is the point anymore, who in the US has either not had covid at this...
"Once the mask mandate is eliminated for transportation, it will be hard to bring it back"
This makes no sense, they introduced it and it was easy to implement then and its especially easy now, they hand out blue masks at every door at every airport in the US now.
These masks have been proven to not work. What is the point anymore, who in the US has either not had covid at this point or not been vaccinated. The majority has had both! Honestly is there a single person who actually travels that does not already have protection from either a shot or antibodies or both!
So, so unnecessary. And this is coming from someone who will mask when in economy and during boarding and deplaning.
I was a mask mandate supporter from the beginning. But now, given the low case numbers, and given that mask mandates are being lifted almost everywhere else, it makes absolutely no sense to continue the mandate for air travelers. The Biden administration should let it die this month in peace.
Our government is run by morons.
You only just figured this out?
Wishful thinking while it lasted. Death by a thousand cuts.
Still a "New Member" ;)
Me too. Been reading OMAAT for a decade.
There with you!
The costs of this mandate have been outweighing the benefits for a while now… As an FA, I’m so sick of the potential for negative interactions from enforcing it, just as I’m sick of the potential for getting in trouble for not enforcing it. It’s just toxic. If you’re concerned, wear an N95. But it’s time to remove this flashpoint from commercial aviation
Agreed. I’m puzzled why people feel the need to take out their frustrations on the FAs, though. If the mask is uncomfortable/annoying, just don’t fly. Most of us don’t have to fly these days, anyway, since business travel barely still exists. Leisure trips don’t make a ton of sense right now anyway, with all of the annoyances and higher prices.