Pete Buttigieg urges travellers to respect federal mask mandate
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Sunday requested travellers to respect flight attendants and other crew members who implement federal mask directives on planes, ensuring strict federal enforcements against such abuse at a time of rapidly rising unruly behavior by passengers.
“The flight crews and other workers you encounter, they’re doing their job. They’re following regulations and they’re there to keep you safe. It is absolutely unacceptable to ever mistreat a transportation worker,” said Buttigieg.
“And of course, there’s very serious fines and enforcement around that,” Buttigieg added.
Buttigieg stated that the federal mask mandate, which stays in effect on planes, buses, and trains till September 13, continues to be based on public health considerations. He focused on the fact that travellers should follow it as both a matter of safety and respect to transportation workers.
“Part of it has to do with the unique conditions of the physical space. Part of it has to do with the conditions of it being a workplace, and folks who really don’t have a choice about being there, the way it is in some other cases.” Buttigieg said, elaborating the extra COVID-19 precautions for crowded spaces.
