If you want to board a flight in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic, any mask won’t cut it anymore.
American Airlines becomes the latest US airline to ban the use of vent masks or valves on its flights, according to its website. Alaska, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United have also banned van masks and vents on their flights, Business Insider reported.
The US updated its policy on August 12, a few days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its guidelines to say a vent mask did not help prevent the spread of COVID. -1
9, McClatchy News reported.
“The purpose of a mask is to prevent airway droplets from reaching others to aid in origin control,” says the CDC. “However, the mask has a check valve or vent that allows air to be exhaled through a hole in the material, which can lead to expelled respiratory droplets to reach others. This type of respirator does not prevent the person wearing the mask from passing COVID-19 to others. Therefore, the CDC does not recommend the use of a respirator for source control if they have an exhalation valve or vent. ”
The new American policy went into effect August 19, according to a statement on the company’s website. The airline started asking passengers to wear masks on its flights in May, the company said.
“Wearing a face veil is a responsibility we share. Alison Taylor, American Chief Customer Officer, said in a press release, Alison Taylor, one of the best ways we can control the spread of COVID-19 to protect team members. and its customers. “Since Americans started asking for a face mask in early May, the vast majority of clients have welcomed our relentless effort to reinforce CDC guidelines based policy.”
Alaska, Allegiant, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country and United all require a mask to be worn by passengers aged 2 and over, USA Today reported. Delta, Sun Country, Hawaii and Allegiant allow some medical exemptions, according to USA Today.
