US Ends Pre-Flight Covid Tests
When I flew to the US last month, everyone on my Canadian flights within the country and US-bound wore a mask, keeping with American and Canadian Covid-19 regulations. On a flight from one US airport to another, about 25% of passengers were masked. Today, the US dropped the masking requirement for all flights, including those entering the country. Flying to or within the US, passengers are free to go maskless, a regulation in place since January 2021. Word is, the European Union will do the same next week. Canada can’t be far behind.
That’s one more step toward a world in which we all take our chances with the virus, wherever we are and wherever we’re heading. Some of the largest and most powerful companies in America have been pushing for an end to all mask mandates: airlines, hotels, theme parks and travel agent associations. While they argue that mask mandates create travel hesitancy, the same can be argued about the lifting of those safety protocols. When I flew last month, I certainly felt more secure and safe because everyone in the airport and on my Canadian flights was masked. On flights within the US with so few people masked, I felt more at risk.
The dropped requirement certainly does not mean you have to go maskless, and don’t let anyone force you to do so, especially other airline passengers. If you want to keep your mask on, keep it on. In fact, to remain and to feel safe, wear a mask in airports and on planes where crowds are thick and air is shared. Doing so is a proven way to reduce the risk of contracting the disease. Many people continue to be infected, get sick and die. We’re just hearing a lot less about it. At the same time, most people who are likely to get vaccinated are already there. Holdouts are likely to remain holdouts. Whatever your comfort level with risk and masks, protocols continue to weaken, and as a result, we will all have to make personal decisions when it comes to air travel.
