U.S. Travel Association Latest to Call for the End of Face Mask Rules
Joe Cortez April 12, 2022
In an interview with CBS News, U.S. Travel Association president Roger Dow called on the White House to not extend the federal face covering mandate on public transportation, citing the “economic costs” that are hurting the industry.
Dow Argues “Less Severe” COVID-19 Variants Allows for Dropped Face Mask Rules
For around two years, flying in the United States comes with wearing a face covering from the moment a passenger enters the terminal, to when they leave the airport at their final destination. After airlines enforced the rule for less than a year, the Biden administration made it a rule through an executive order, which has been since extended well past the original deadline.
The latest extension pushed the rule through Monday, April 18, 2022, at the direction of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). With less than a week to go before a decision is made on face coverings for flights, Dow says that less severe variants of COVID-19 should allow for travelers to decide for themselves whether or not to wear a mask.
“We have an unpredictable virus with many variants,” Dow told CBS News. “But we’re seeing again and again these variants are less severe.”
The call comes as infections are trending upward once again, while most Americans would accept an extension of the face mask mandate. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, the 7-day moving average cases have trended upward since March 30, 2022. As of April 11, the agency reports a 7-day moving average of over 30,000 new cases per day.
In addition, Forbes notes The Harris Poll COVID-19 tracking survey shows 60% of Americans polled would accept another extension of the face covering rules for public transportation. The survey polled 2,000 adults and was demographically weighted.
Neither the White House, the CDC, nor the TSA have indicated if there will be another extension of the face covering rule for commercial flyers.
U.S. Travel Association Joins Growing List of Those Opposing Face Mask Rules
With Dow’s interview, the U.S. Travel Association is the latest group to publicly support an end to face coverings on flights. In March 2022, airline executives under Airlines for America, the Southwest Airlines flight attendant’s union and former Spirit Airlines chief executive Ben Baldanza all called on the government to drop mandatory masking for flyers.
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Cases rising, so end the mask mandate. Yeah that makes great sense.
Who the hack would want to sit elbow to elbow with people (inthe worst case) and 2 feet in front and in back with 200 unmasked people on a plane? This is really crazy.
What's crazy is the same 200 masked people on a plane will all remove their masks at the same time to have a drink and/or meal during the flight. Does the virus not spread then on flights? If it's safe to have a drink, it's safe to move on from masking.
200 unmasked people pose no greater danger than 200 cloth masked people. If you're worried about it, wear a mask. Or don't fly. But don't force others to join in your charade.
How about ending the covid testing requirements to enter the US if you are vaxed instead
Didn't seem to do much good. https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/cdc-extends-travel-mask-mandate-15-days
Time to end the completely useless mask theater. Throughout Europe the masks are finished: Denmark, UK, Switzerland, France to name a few. I sit on a plane and eat my meal for two hours masks off then I have to put it back on. Huh? What does putting it back on accomplish? Then we get to Omicron....highly transmissable, but extraordinarily mild for those who get it and basically everyone will get it. If there is a person who is has pre-existing serious health conditions, by all means, if it makes you feel better, where whatever mask you want. Making me wear a mask does nothing for you and makes me suffer the extreme discomfort of wearing it.
Requiring a mask on all parties helps reduce the spread of the virus, and the discomfort is far from extreme. That you claim these falsehoods shows that you are not the one to consult on this.
You're entitled to believe this, but the data does not support it.
Agreed. There is simply no credible data that shows masks--as typically worn in public--have any transmission-impeding benefit. There is credible data that shows cloth masks (worn by a majority of the mask-wearing public) have zero effect, that surgical masks have a very marginal benefit, and that properly fitted N95 masks have a measurable, but small, benefit.
It's all theater at this point, which we've known for at least 18 months.
On behalf of your Seattle based flight crew....... PULL UP YOUR MASK!