President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Thursday that makes masks mandatory for air travel and other means of commercial transport.
“We will be signing an additional executive action to extend the masking requirements on interstate travel, such as on trains, planes and buses,” said Biden in a televised speech, made on his first day in office.
PRESIDENT BIDEN HOPES TO SEND MASKS ON PLANS, AT AIRPORTS, AS PART OF EXECUTIVE ORDER
Shortly after Biden took office as president on January 20, he signed an executive measure that made masks and social detachment mandatory on federal properties.
Biden’s executive orders came almost a year after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic.
More than 24.5 million Americans have been infected with the new coronavirus, while more than 409,100 Americans have lost their lives due to respiratory diseases, according to data from the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard.
AIRLINE PASSENGER WHO REFUSED TO USE THE MASK AND ATTENDED INJURED FLIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE INCIDENT
For this reason, Biden asked citizens to “dress up” for the next 100 days, while the federal and state governments work to make vaccines available.
Airlines already required customers to wear face masks or covers when boarding a flight or waiting at airport terminals, however, President Donald Trump has not issued an executive mandate for the PPE.
On January 13, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a statement on its compliance and enforcement program that issues civil penalties for passengers who refuse to wear masks, follow flight crew instructions or engage in disruptive behavior.
KLM CANCELS LONG TERM FLIGHTS, DEMONSTRATES WORKERS AFTER HOLLAND FLIGHT PROHIBITION PROPOSAL
Since then, several commercial aviation organizations have issued messages in support of the FAA and Biden’s position on mandatory face masks.
The Association of Flight Attendant-CWA is one of the most recent to publicly praise the decision of the head of state.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
President Joe Biden made the masks mandatory on planes, trains and buses through an executive action he signed on Thursday, January 21. (IStock)
“We welcome President Biden’s national approach to eliminate the virus and get us out of this pandemic,” said AFA President Sara Nelson in a statement. “Today’s executive action on a mask mandate for interstate travel, including airports and airplanes, will provide the necessary support for flight attendants and aviation workers on the front lines. Masks are vitally important to the health of everyone board and a particularly necessary safety measure in our workspace where adequate social distance is not an option. “
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
In addition, Biden’s executive action makes coronavirus testing mandatory for people traveling to the U.S.
International travelers will need a negative test before boarding their flight and will be required to quarantine when entering the country. Biden explained that this mandate aims to protect Americans from the new variants of COVID that are being found worldwide.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK TO GET MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS
Michael Bartiromo of Fox News contributed to this report.