Some of the first executive orders signed by President Joe Biden are guidelines prescribing masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus in this country. The warrants, one on federal property and one on travel, are limited to locations and people over which the Biden administration has control.
In addition, Biden is urging all Americans to wear face covers for 100 days, believing that such concentrated effort could help stem the spread of the coronavirus as vaccination efforts increase.
Here’s a look at how Americans may be affected by the new executive orders:
Domestic travel
There is now a federal mask requirement that applies to airports, airplanes, ships, and many intercity buses, trains, and public transportation.
While airlines, Amtrak, and other modes of transport already had individual or regional mask requirements, the executive order makes it a requirement at the federal level and helps stop any leeway at the local level.
There are still unanswered questions about how this order is enforced and in what ways transport, exactly, are covered.
International travel
Travelers coming to the US from another country must present a negative COVID-19 test before going to this country and quarantine upon arrival.
Federal Property
Masks and social distance efforts are now required on all federal properties and federal countries. This includes places like federal courthouses, FBI, or other federal agency buildings, both in DC and around the country, and national parks and forests.
While regional or state mask mandates have informed the local decisions in these locations, the federal level mask requirement helps ensure that federal ownership requirements are consistent.
Federal employees
All federal employees and contractors are required to wear masks while on federal property or otherwise on-the-job.