Masks have been a source of division since the start of the pandemic. But how do folks in our region feel about going maskless on planes?
Douglas Braff gauged how some folks at the University Park Airport feel
Going maskless on planes is something many have missed from before the world turned upside down. But are folks ready to return to normal?
“A guy just kind of came outta the office and just yeah, just told us basically the mass mandate wasn’t mandated anymore. People immediately took them off.”
One Avis employee named Trent tells me he was at University Park Airport when the news broke.
“People were excited. There [was] definitely excitement in here. People were, like, cheering about it, like clapping. It was weird to see. But, I don’t know, I can get used to it, seeing people’s faces again.
It’s something we haven’t seen in a while, yeah.”
While many are now happy to bare their faces
“Just can finally breathe. Makes it a little bit more comfortable.” “But I’m generally happy about not having to wear a mask.”
The ruling did confuse and surprise some of folks, now that it’s not a single, nationwide policy.
“Whenever I go to an airport, I assume that we have to wear a mask because of the environment. I’m still not used to the fact that we don’t have to wear a mask anymore. So, I was a bit confused.”
“Honestly, I didn’t even know it was to, like, to happen until I got on the plane and saw that, like, everybody was going maskless.”
Not everybody shared in the relief, however
“My personal reaction was, ‘I’m gonna keep my mask,’ because of my circumstances.”
Tim says he’s over 70 and has COPD.
“And so, I’m gonna try and take care of myself. I buy the science.”
He tells me the move to go maskless came too soon.
“I just wish people would wear masks and take the vaccine. And, you know, it seems pretty straightforward to me, but apparently not to some people.”
But some want to jet off back to normal.
“I just hope that everything gets better. I don’t want to go back to the days that we have to wear a mask.”
“Just hope the pandemic finally just goes away.”
Before you head to the airport, be sure to look up the mask policy for the airline and airport.
