Masks required at CPA ports

The Commonwealth Ports Authority has expanded its efforts to ensure that any person entering or is in an airport or seaport must wear a mask, in accordance with a presidential executive order, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and other federal memoranda.

These efforts include the requirement that all employees, tenants, vendors, visitors, and traveling passengers properly wear masks at CPA ports. A properly worn mask will completely cover the nose and mouth of the wearer.

Persons requesting an exemption from this requirement must provide a medical consultation by a third party or medical documentation by a licensed medical provider that advises the person not wear a mask. Individuals requesting an exemption must also provide evidence that he does not have COVID-19, such as a negative result from a SAR-CoV-2 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19. Last, any persons refusing to comply and wear a mask or act in compliance with CDC guidelines will be removed from the premises.

This comes soon after President Joe Biden issued an executive order titled “Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel” last Jan. 21, 2021.

The executive order implements public health measures consistent with CDC guidelines on public modes of transportation and at ports of entry to the United States. These guidelines are contained within CDC’s Jan. 29, 2021, emergency order.

CDC’s guidelines require that all persons wear masks over their mouth and nose when traveling and while at “transportation hubs.” The term “transportation hubs” includes airports, bus terminals, marinas, seaports, other ports, and terminals.

The guidelines also provide five circumstances where an individual will not be required to wear a mask: while eating, drinking, or taking medication, for brief periods; while communicating with a person who is hearing impaired when the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication; when the use of an oxygen mask is needed on an aircraft; when an individual is incapacitated, unable to be awakened, or unable to remove the mask without assistance, excluding sleeping; and when necessary to verify one’s identity, such as during Transportation Security Administration screening. Additionally, other federal memoranda indicate that if a person’s mask is removed to eat, drink, or take medications, then such removal may not be for prolonged periods and the mask must be worn between bites and sips.

The guidelines also exempt the following individuals from the mask-wearing requirement: children under the age of 2; persons with disabilities that cannot wear a mask because of the disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act; and persons for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duties.

For more information regarding the executive order visit the following website: http://shorturl.at/wzD29. For more information regarding the emergency order visit: http://shorturl.at/mrzB4. (PR)