https://www.swamedia.com/releases/r...ia-statement-federal-face-mask-mandate-lifted Excerpt: Apr 18, 2022 On Monday, a federal judge issued a decision stating the federal mask mandate for public transportation, including on airlines and at airports, is no longer in effect. Thereafter, the White House announced the masking order is not in effect, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not enforce the federal mask mandate at this time.
I'm flying Monday. I'm carrying a mask just in case. I always thought it was stupid anyway. Planes have some of the best filtration systems in the world and when you're eating or drinking you could pull you mask down. It wasn't like the virus knew it couldn't leave your body while you were eating/drinking.
Flew out last Monday and it was one of those bumpy trips where they didn’t feel safe bringing out drinks, and it was a particularly irritating day for me with the mask, so had to grin and bear it for a few hours. So it was good to hear the news and know I could fly back Friday with nothing on. Not sure what the reason was we had to hold out so long for with most modes of transportation. Even Uber and Lyft wouldn’t budge. Judge was right. Regardless of the virus risks, just didn’t make any more practical sense if everything else could care less about masks. What are we preventing? Learn to live with it and accept the risks as Mother Nature does her job strengthening the contact base and weakening the virus as time goes on.
I flew Monday and yesterday. I did not wear a mask in the airport or during my flights. Something so small felt liberating. There were a few people who wore masks, but I would have to guess it was much less than 10%. Some of the flight crew wore masks. Luckily they removed their masks when they made announcements. Covid scare tactics seem to be over.
It's not like surgical or cloth masks could stop the virus of it's size either. As mentioned, the filtration system on planes is the only protection that is scientifically proven to protect you against that virus.
I just got back from St. Kitts. No mask mandate until you touch down in St. Kitts and then you had to put one on exiting the plane and going through customs and immigration. If you're traveling internationally keep a mask in your pocket in case. We had to wear one on the shuttle to our hotel as well. The hotel and all the restaurants said "No mask no entry" everywhere we went but nobody was wearing them lol. I was stuck in Miami Int. for 4 freaking hours and being maskless for that was great!