Some of the first executive orders signed by President Joe Biden are guidelines requiring masks to slow the spread of coronavirus in this country. Orders, one on federal property and one on travel, are limited to places and people over which the Biden administration has control.
In addition, Biden is asking all Americans to wear facial cover for 100 days, with the idea that a concerted effort for so long could help stem the spread of the coronavirus as vaccination efforts are increasing.
Here’s a look at how Americans can be affected by the new executive orders:
Traveling internally
There is now a federal mask requirement that applies to airports, airplanes, ships and many intercity buses, trains and public transport.
Although airlines, Amtrak and other means of transport already have individual or regional mask requirements, executive order makes it a federal level requirement and helps prevent any room for maneuver at the local level.
There are still unanswered questions about how this request will be applied and what modes of transportation exactly are covered.
International trip
Travelers coming from another country to the USA must submit a negative COVID-19 test before going to that country and then quarantine upon arrival.
Federal property
Masks and efforts at social distancing are now needed in all federal properties and federal lands. This includes locations like federal courts, FBI or other federal agency buildings in DC and across the country, and national parks and forests.
Although regional or state masking mandates informed local decisions at those locations, the federal requirement for masking helps to ensure consistency of federal ownership requirements.
Federal employees
All federal and contract employees are required to wear masks while on federal property or while working.