Biden for ordering masks, quarantines for passengers in covid fight

Photographer: David Paul Morris / Bloomberg

President Joe Biden pushes for extra travel safety due to coronavirus pandemic by urging people to wear masks at airports and on planes while applying quarantines for people arriving in the USA from other countries.

In an order of action he will issue Thursday, his second day in office, Biden will code an action with former President Donald Trump on Jan. 12 to demand a negative Covid-19 test before flying to the U.S. from other countries, according to Biden an administration information page. The order will be tied to a man in need of masks on federal premises signed by Biden on Wednesday.

The language of the orders has not been released so it is difficult to assess how the various provisions will be implemented. U.S. carriers have some sort of requirement for passengers to cover their faces, as do many airports and transfer systems.

But the requirement to include a federal tooth mask in policies now written and enforced by the airlines, which have limited remedies, such as refusing to allow customers to board flights -air in the future.

And it goes past planes. According to Biden ‘s information page, the administration calls for “the application of mascara in airports, on certain modes of public transport, including many trains, planes, seagoing vessels, and intercity buses. ”

While there is evidence of the dangers of flying through pandemics In contrast, there is widespread agreement that wearing a tight-fitting face mask can significantly reduce the risks of spreading the Covid-19 virus.

One of the actions with the greatest impact is the requirement for persons entering the U.S. from other countries to comply with non-emergency quarantine guidelines from the Centers for Control and Disease Prevention.

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The CDC recommends that international travelers get a second test for the virus within three to five days of arrival and stay at home or alone for seven days – even if the test is negative. For people who do not get tested, it is safer to leave for 10 days, the CDC says.

Similar restrictions in the UK have reduced travel and have been opposed by airlines and others in the travel industry, who have said aggressive testing should be enough to slowly spread the disease.

“The Regulatory Order also calls for consideration of additional public health measures in domestic travel,” according to the Biden factsheet.

Airline mask requirements are sometimes adhered to, with exceptions for when passengers must eat and drink. As well as persuasion, it is the only tool for airlines if passengers refuse to stop.

Biden’s new policy could impose charges on passengers. During the pandemic, the The Federal Aviation Administration has only filed civil charges against two people in connection with their refusal to wear masks in cases of threats or alleged assaults on flight attendants.

Hundreds of people have been banned from flying individual carriers for refusing or engaging in disputes with flight attendants and pilots over the issue.

In the days around Jan mob storm. 6 pro-Trump of the U.S. Capitol, several incidents were reported on social media and by airlines of people traveling to and from Washington without masks.

The two oldest Republican elders in charge of aviation policy, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Ted Cruz of Texas, were both raised on unmanned aircraft last year. Wicker chaired the Trade, Science and Transport Committee and Cruz was the director of the Aviation and space subcommittee.

Airline service unions had been particularly strong in calling for more action by the government, saying it was unfair that their members had to enforce a rule without teeth.

“Masks are effective in significantly reducing the risk of Covid-19 transmission,” said Sara Nelson, president of the Flight Attendants Association.CWA, in a press release last July. “But they are only effective if everyone does their part in wearing the masks properly. ”

Materials summarizing Biden’s order of action made no mention of a separate ban on the arrival of the majority of European and Brazilian travelers. Trump announced Monday that it intended to cancel the orders, most of which were executed in March last year.

But Biden spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that day that the incoming administration intends to block the Trump move.

“On the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these limits to 1/26. In fact, we intend to strengthen public health measures around international travel to further mitigate the release of Covid-19, ”she tweeted.