When Are Mask Mandates on Airplanes Ending?
In addition to England, Northern Ireland, Norway, and Barbados, destinations that do not currently require air masks include Mexico, Saint Lucia, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. The United States, Scotland, Italy, and China are among the many countries that still require masks to be worn on planes.
Airport regulations may be stricter than flight regulations for a given route, meaning that the traveler may be required to wear a mask upon arrival, according to Airports Council International, a trade body representing nearly 2,000 airports. Airports in Norway, Denmark, and England were exceptions to mask removal requirements.
When can I stop flying wearing a mask in the US?
Maybe April 19, if — and that’s a big if — the White House doesn’t renew the federal mandate to wear masks. Farther. Even Stewardesses are divided on whether the order should be extended again, with some saying that covering the rule is not worth it given the problems with its enforcement. In contrast, others argue that the law is critical to ensuring medically vulnerable travelers’ safety.
Should the count of Covid cases affect the mandatory wearing of masks?
It depends on on who you ask.
Worldwide, the number of cases varies. In recent weeks, the number of patients in the US has fallen to its lowest level since June. Canada also hit its lowest infection rate since December. But in many other places, the number of cases is on the rise. When England lifted mandatory masks at airports and airlines on March 16. The issues hit their highest level in almost a month. Meanwhile, a sub-variant known as BA.2 affects parts of Asia and Europe. And on Sunday, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Biden administration’s top pandemic advisor, predicted a similar “spike” of BA.2 cases would eventually occur in the United States.
Updated
March 22, 2022 6:02 pm ET
Aviation Public Health Initiative
Aviation Public Health Initiative produced a report that some airline executives used to rationalize final mask requirements. “Covid is not over yet,” said Leonard Markus, director of Harvard University. Dr. Marcus said it was too early for him to give an opinion. On whether BA.2 deserves an extension of the federal mandate for masks. But once canceled, he said, the mask mandate will be difficult to restore.
Some advocates for ending mandatory mask-wearing argue that as long as vaccines prevent serious illness. Counting cases doesn’t matter because most international travelers are vaccinated.
In a statement announcing the lifting of mask requirements last week, Heathrow Airport embodied this idea: mention “reliable protection provided by vaccination programs around the world” and the adoption of “the movement to learn how to live with Covid in the long term.”
