Now that the federal mask mandate for airline travel is gone, let’s take a look and see how those who’ve had to live with it every day — flight attendants and pilots — are taking the news, shall we?
First up is this flight attendant who literally broke down in tears after being able to remove her mask after two years:
Plane applauded as the stewardess announced the end of the mandate. She broke into tears as she got to take off her mask for the first time in 2 years 😭 pic.twitter.com/WlCpZk30QM
— Kyle Mann (@The_Kyle_Mann) April 19, 2022
“You can hear the joy in her voice”:
You could hear the joy in her voice…I know is forbodone these days but someone should have given her a hug. #Freedom#WonderfulNews https://t.co/FxWwQDLpMw
— Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) April 19, 2022
And here’s a pilot sharing the news with his passengers. “The reaction from everyone on the plane says it all”:
Pilot announces an end to Biden’s Mask Mandate, the reaction from everyone on the plane says it all.
This is awesome 🇺🇸
— Benny “Libs Of Tik Tok” Aficionado (@bennyjohnson) April 19, 2022
But just because the mandate is gone doesn’t mean masks are going away. The New York and New Jersey Port Authority will keep masking in place, but not everywhere:
UPDATE: The Port Authority, which is governed by officials from New York and New Jersey, is applying different rules for different facilities since the two states have taken different tacks in the wake of Monday's ruling.
https://t.co/JcFFtopdwt— Gothamist (@Gothamist) April 19, 2022
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There’s so much science here it burns:
The Port Authority is still requiring masks at its Midtown bus terminal, on PATH trains and inside JFK and Laguardia Airports — but not at Newark Liberty or Teterboro airports in New Jersey.https://t.co/JcFFtopdwt
— Gothamist (@Gothamist) April 19, 2022
And the MTA in New York City is still requiring masks:
The MTA is telling riders that masks remain mandatory on subways, buses and commuter rails.https://t.co/ADrYI6iAsQ
— Amsterdam News (@NYAmNews) April 19, 2022
But in New Jersey, bus and train travel can be done mask free:
.@TSA announced that it'll no longer enforce a mask mandate in public transportation settings. Masks will no longer be required on @NJTRANSIT & by South Jersey Transportation Authority. Individuals may wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by personal level of risk.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 19, 2022
The White House has since warned that a new mandate might be coming:
"We're not going to prejudge with [DOJ] decides," Psaki says. "We're continuing to encourage people to wear masks on public transit, they'll make that decision because it's obviously not being implemented at this moment in time, but we'll continue to abide by CDC guidance." https://t.co/vJkQqNZUTz
— Oriana Pawlyk (@Oriana0214) April 19, 2022
And they’re promising to clear things up:
Says administration will help alleviate confusion on when/where to wear masks, but adds the CDC continues to advise masks on planes. "We're abiding by the CDC recommendations. We would advise all Americans to do that." Re: the court ruling, "we…didn't have advance notice of it"
— Oriana Pawlyk (@Oriana0214) April 19, 2022
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Related:
United Airlines is ‘just saying it’s cool if a few kids die’ by dropping the mask mandate
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