As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, face masks have become an integrated part of everyday life. Although mask mandates vary across states, school districts and employers, wearing a mask is required at airports, federal properties, public transit and for the duration of flights.
Failure to comply with mask mandates within the aviation industry can result in physical removal, fines, termination, and registration on an airline’s no-fly list. Exemptions are provided for children under the age of 2 and individuals with disabilities who have medical proof and have been granted an airline’s pre-approval clearance before their flight departure.
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Why are we still wearing masks?
To date, the CDC reports that over 710,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. Though vaccination rates have steadily increased, new cases continue to emerge in critical states grappling to navigate political ideology and science-based measures for effective disease containment.
Facial masks are research-proven to help slow the spread of diseases. A 2020 systematic review published in The Lancet assessed the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of masks and other COVID-19 measures.
The study results indicated that masks, particularly N95 or similar respirators, were associated with reducing the risk of transmission. Similarly, a CDC study indicated that cloth masks are associated with a statistically significant decrease in coronavirus disease spread.
President Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan outlines the wearing of masks, together with increased testing and vaccinations, as part of its current strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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Does wearing facemasks cause an asthma attack?
Medical experts and national patient advocacy lung organizations, including the American Lung Association and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, have supported masks as safe for people with controlled asthma and lung diseases.
According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, wearing a face mask does not