These days, people wearing masks for protection from COVID-19 are few and far between.
However, airports still mandate the use of masks – Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) included. This week, in the airport’s monthly information newsletter, PTIA officials reminded everyone that, while masks are coming off everywhere else, COVID-19 restrictions still apply at the airport.
PTIA is also enforcing other COVID-19 restrictions that have pretty much faded away everywhere else in society.
PTIA Executive Director Kevin Baker said he’s not sure when the mask rule will be dropped for airports, but he added that it won’t happen before mid-April.
“The next consideration date is April 18, I think,’ Baker said, thinking correctly. “I sure hope that’s the end of it.”
In mid-March, the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) extended the federal mask mandate for at least another month into April. That meant everyone had to keep wearing face masks at airports and on planes.
The mask mandate for airports and passenger planes was first put in place in January of 2021. Originally, it was set to expire on March 18, but it was extended for at least another month.
Elsewhere in society – like jampacked college basketball arenas, for one – masking and social distancing rules are no more.
In March, the TSA also announced masks would also still be required on forms of transportation like trains and buses.
On Wednesday, March 30, PTIA sent out a reminder about its rules that must be followed when flying even though these types of restrictions have faded away elsewhere and makes going to the airport like stepping back in time.
- Face Coverings. All airport passengers and guests must wear face coverings while on airport property “unless a face covering would be inappropriate due to the age of a child or a medical condition.”
- Arrive Early. This helps prevent crowding that is often caused by last-minute rushing before scheduled flights.
- Limit Touchpoints. This means, among other things, using mobile boarding passes on smart phones.
- Social Distancing. Passengers are to keep at least six feet of space “from non-household members in all areas of the airport.”
There are also rules for non-passengers. Anyone picking up or dropping off passengers should avoid entering the terminal when possible: “Instead, they should use the short-term parking in front of the main terminal, stay in their vehicles and communicate by cell phone unless they are assisting unaccompanied minors, passengers with disabilities, or others who need assistance.”
What can you say? Let’s go Brandon!!!!!!!
TIME TO STOP
I was there today and have been several other times over this Plandemic to pick up rental cars with no mask. Not an issue and most people have finally come to realize the masks were nothing more than liberal theater.
Or that the pandemic is mostly over in Guilford county for local residents. Only juvenile modern conservatives refuse to acknowledge actual scientific studies that showed, when used properly, masks were an effective tool in protecting the virus. Not perfect by themselves, but an important additive tool.
But I fully understand the lack of scientific theory and evidence contradicts most modern conservative talking points such as the pandemic, climate change, economics, and world origin.
Lift the mandate. If people want to wear masks let them. Mask has not been a proven factor in stop covid. Stop playing games and allow people to live their lives the way they want to without government inference
(Read with deep sarcasm) Yeah, we should be able to drive on the left side of the road at 90 miles an hour. Shoot our guns anywhere we like within city limits and control everything teachers say to our kids in the classroom on a daily basis. While we are at it, we should be allowed to discriminate against any group of people we choose just because we don’t like them or they make us uncomfortable. Muuuuuuf Freeeeeedoooooom.
Modern conservatives are an embarrassment. (Had to add the note on deep sarcasm so the real nutters didn’t think I converted to the idiot side of politics.)
Chris you are the prototype for the term libtard! Freedom is good, freedom is good, freedom is good,…. just keep repeating that like a mantra until the commie indoctrination wears off. Trust me when I tell you that it will be OK once the dark mists of liberal propaganda have lifted and you can see the real world as it is. The USA is not perfect but is the best place ever created on earth by man. Join the party and breath the fresh air of FREEDOM. God loves you and God bless you!
“You can’t make this stuff up”. But they do.
Remember it is all about controlling the populous.