Embed from Getty Images
I laugh so hard at videos of anti-maskers getting kicked off planes. (While it must be so frustrating if the flights were diverted, I hope they serve as a warning to other maskholes.) For all the videos of people being prosecuted for refusing to wear masks, there are surely so many more who were allowed to go without due to sheer arrogance and whiteness. It’s just too much trouble to confront those people because they’re already showing how obnoxious they are by going maskless. The good news is that the TSA has extended their mask mandate on public transportation until September 13th. It was originally set to expire in May. This means that stiff fines will remain in place until then.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) extended its face mask mandate on Friday, requiring the PPE to be worn in airports, bus stations and train stations, as well as on corresponding travel, until Sept. 13. The mandate originally went into effect on Feb. 1, with an expiration date of May 11.
While the requirement has been extended, those who break the mandate could still face a penalty of up to $1,500. Travelers under 2 years old and those with disabilities will still be exempt from the mandate.
“The federal mask requirement throughout the transportation system seeks to minimize the spread of COVID-19 on public transportation,” said Darby LaJoye, the senior official performing the duties of the TSA administrator, in a statement.
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently cleared fully vaccinated people to travel safely within the United States, officials still recommend face masks, hand washing and social distancing. The TSA’s statement also notes that their latest mandate extension “is consistent with this most recent CDC guidance.”
[From People]
The article goes on to say that the EU will allow vaccinated American tourists to visit starting sometime this summer. Although the timeline is unclear they state that all EU countries will accept vaccinated people.
I booked a flight for June to see my parents for the first time in a year a half. Even though I am fully vaccinated, I still get anxiety around people without masks. It’s an emotional response that I am trying to unlearn. We’re going to Florida so I don’t expect much. The mask mandate is reassuring because even if people don’t follow the law, at least it’s there. I’m so grateful to the Biden administration and to all the scientists for their hard work and smart policies getting us through the pandemic. It didn’t have to be this bad but at least some changes are being made.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Source: Read Full Article
