The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a history of taking extreme stances on public health and safety, and their recommendations on child passenger safety are no exception. But the New York Times has taken it a step further with a recent travel article that seems stuck in the past. The headline “Late-Summer Travel Plans? You Might Want to Put On a Mask” is a blast from the COVID-19 era, and the article’s advice on mask-wearing during travel is equally outdated.
The article cites the high levels of COVID-19 in the U.S. and abroad, and quotes “experts” who claim that masks are still a crucial tool for staying healthy while traveling. However, the article’s reliance on the CDC’s guidelines, which recommend wearing masks in crowded or poorly ventilated areas, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs, feels like a throwback to the pandemic era.
The Times even goes so far as to suggest that wearing a mask, even if you’re the only one on a train or at an airport, can still offer protection. But the article’s tone and advice feel out of touch with the current reality, where the vast majority of people have moved on from the pandemic-era restrictions and guidelines.
