WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on January 21 which changed the COVID-19 restrictions for passengers aboard public transportation.
The order signed by the president mandates that people wear face coverings on all forms of interstate travel, from trains and airplanes to boats. Prior to this order individual companies may have mandated masks for travel, or suggested it, but it was not law until the president’s order. On February 1, the federal Transportation Security Agency started informing state travel authorities that local transportation should at minimum recommend all passengers wear masks.
At the Albuquerque Sunport International Airport business continues as normal – as it has since the pandemic changed the way the world operates. Rules for travelling in New Mexico have remained relatively stable, with mask-wearing mandated by state law since the early days of the pandemic, ordered all people coming into the state to self-quarantine even if they are state residents until either 14 days pass or they receive a negative COVID-19 test result.
Prior to this order by President Biden states and businesses were required to mandate their own rules and regulations. The lack of coordination made rules confusing for out-of-state visitors since certain states had greatly reduced restrictions compared to New Mexico.
Why masks?
Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci and Secretary of the New Mexico Health and Human Services Department Dr. David Scrase both explained that there are three great ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially on public transport.
1. Wash your hands for 20 seconds.
2. Social distance from others
Most importantly, they say, is:
3. Wear a protective face covering.
Both doctors have agreed that the best way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is to wear a face covering. Not only does the mask prevent the spread of COVID-19, but it has the potential to limit personal exposure to the virus as well.
Recently, Dr. Fauci has also advised about the need to wear two masks when using interstate travel,
“So, if you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on. It just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective,” Dr. Fauci explained.
“The size of an oxygen molecule and a carbon dioxide molecule are exceedingly, exceedingly small. Way, way, way smaller than the COVID virus itself,” said New Mexico’s Dr. Scrase.