Brazil Reintroduces Airplane Mask Mandate

Brazil Reintroduces Airplane Mask Mandate

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Over the past year or so, we’ve seen a countless number of countries eliminate mask mandates for travel. Well, Brazil is countering the trend, and is reintroducing mask requirements at airports and on airplanes.

Brazil reinstates travel mask mandate

Brazil’s health regulatory agency, Anvisa, has announced plans to once again require travelers to wear masks. Specifically, as of Friday, November 25, 2022, Brazil will once again require masks at airports and on airplanes.

Brazil was only one of the more recent countries to lift its mask mandate, as the country stopped requiring them for travel back in August 2022. The mask requirement won’t be quite as strict as before, as airlines will be able to serve food and drinks as usual (while previously there were restrictions regarding service on domestic flights).

The mask requirement is being reintroduced as Brazil is seeing an increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks. While cases are indeed up, they’re nowhere near what we saw at the beginning of the year, when there was the initial omicron surge. Then again, there’s also not as much testing going on nowadays.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases over the past year

Health authorities are concerned about a seasonal uptick in cases between November and January. While these are spring and summer months in Brazil, this reflects that this is also when many people from around the globe visit Brazil, which may lead to further cases being imported.

Here’s how Alex Campos, who proposed the return of this measure, describes the decision:

“The use of masks in higher risk environments, due to their characteristics of confinement, circulation and agglomeration of people, represents an act of citizenship and protection of the community and aims to mitigate the risk of transmission and contagion of the disease.”

Could airplane mask mandates return in other countries?

I’m kind of surprised to see Brazil reintroduce a mask mandate for travel, especially as this comes as Bolsonaro is still in office. It sure makes me wonder if we could see the return of more widespread travel mask mandates in the coming months:

  • At this point even the countries that were initially most conservative with pandemic restrictions have largely lifted travel mask mandates
  • Understandably coronavirus cases often come in waves based on variants and other factors, and it could be that we see another big wave soon
  • We saw all kinds of issues with people following mask mandates when they were imposed the first time around, and I can’t help but feel like there will be significantly more issues if this were to be reintroduced

As I’ve often said, personally I support masks being optional on planes. Nowadays we have high quality masks that people can use to protect themselves. Heck, I flew yesterday, and wore a mask at the airport and during boarding, and didn’t during the rest of the flight.

Letting people make the choice is the right move, in my opinion. Besides, at least in the United States there were few restrictions regarding the quality of masks people had to wear. It’s just plain silly to require people to wear masks, but then allow them to wear cloth masks.

Could we see more mask requirements reinstated?

Bottom line

As of November 25, 2022, Brazil will once again require masks on airplanes and at airports. Brazil had only lifted mask requirements back in August. Now a few months later, the country is reintroducing mask requirements, as we see an uptick in cases.

What do you make of Brazil bringing back its airplane mask mandate? Do you think we’ll see other countries follow?

Conversations (69)
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  1. sseveran New Member

    Regardless of your views on how well masks work...I landed at GIG on 12/3. Airside I would say ~70% of people were wearing masks in some fashion (maybe a little more). Lots of wearing around the chin. Landside virtually no one was wearing masks, including the staff at the COVID-19 testing facility.

  2. Fuckyoupayme Guest

    95% of people do not properly wear a mask. Most people use the same mask over and over for a Day, a week, a month. Therefore this does little. They would literally have to hand out new masks every two hours to every single person and make sure they change them.

  3. Azamaraal Diamond

    Extensive research shows that if a great mask (better than N95) if properly fitted, properly used, replaced every 2 hours by a 'person at risk' over 60 provides some protection FOR THE USER ONLY.

    Have you seen more than 1% of the general public fit any of these requirements?

    Only provides false security. Check out recent events in China for example - one of the most restrictive mask--wearing countries in the world.

    Foolish nonsense. Optional...

    Extensive research shows that if a great mask (better than N95) if properly fitted, properly used, replaced every 2 hours by a 'person at risk' over 60 provides some protection FOR THE USER ONLY.

    Have you seen more than 1% of the general public fit any of these requirements?

    Only provides false security. Check out recent events in China for example - one of the most restrictive mask--wearing countries in the world.

    Foolish nonsense. Optional for sure. Required - useless.

    2 more replies
  4. Andrew Diamond

    Anytime a masking topic comes up on a travel blog, I brace myself for the Dunning–Kruger effect in the comments section.

  5. Gabriel Guest

    I have worn masks on all my flights this year and haven’t gotten sick once. Pre Covid I didn’t and used to get sick all the time after flights. It’s not a huge deal for me and would rather just let people decide if they want to wear one or not at this point. The pandemic is over and life should be back to normal.

  6. BenjaminGuttery Diamond

    Just flew to Geneva through Madrid (starting in DFW) and Iberia requires masks during boarding, the entire flight, and yada-yada. Then you get to the airport in Madrid and it's a free for all, but when you get on the little terminal tram: MASKS BACK ON! Makes zero sense. I was NEVER told anything about it until 5 min before boarding. NOWHERE at the airport was even selling masks anymore, luckily TSA had some IN...

    Just flew to Geneva through Madrid (starting in DFW) and Iberia requires masks during boarding, the entire flight, and yada-yada. Then you get to the airport in Madrid and it's a free for all, but when you get on the little terminal tram: MASKS BACK ON! Makes zero sense. I was NEVER told anything about it until 5 min before boarding. NOWHERE at the airport was even selling masks anymore, luckily TSA had some IN THE BACK OFFICE CLOSET. I'd say 85% of the flight was in my same position (on Both flights) and passengers were scrambling for something. From what I understand, Spain and Italy will still have this through APRIL 2023. Not flying them or any airline again that has this rule. I've been jabbed 4 times now and I'm over all of this. Over it.

    3 more replies
  7. Jake Guest

    About time. Plenty of peer-reviewed studies proving their effectiveness at REDUCING transmission, much more so if also worn by an infected person (who may not know he or she is infected) than only the healthy one, and exactly ZERO peer-reviewed studies that say they don't work.

    Amazing how obsessed certain people are at making not-protecting-others into a religion and a piece of pride, as in "I will go into a packed store and breath unprotected...

    About time. Plenty of peer-reviewed studies proving their effectiveness at REDUCING transmission, much more so if also worn by an infected person (who may not know he or she is infected) than only the healthy one, and exactly ZERO peer-reviewed studies that say they don't work.

    Amazing how obsessed certain people are at making not-protecting-others into a religion and a piece of pride, as in "I will go into a packed store and breath unprotected on everyone else to prove my religious point that I should be able to hurt my neighbor"

    1 more reply
  8. Baliken Guest

    Indonesia still requires masks.

  9. John T Guest

    Masks should be optional forever. If you want to protect yourself, wear one.
    If you don't, don't.

    Simple.

  10. TravelinWilly Diamond

    “I view ppl wearing masks driving alone or walking alone outdoors as the same as someone walking around with a tinfoil hat.”

    “Sorry, it’s not a sign of respect to enable someone’s mental illness.”

    “I chuckle to myself everytime I see these crazies in germ-laden society.”

    Many people view those who wear crosses around their necks the same way as those doing the ridiculing above. What is *truly* funny/ironic is how non-“Christians” are kinder and...

    “I view ppl wearing masks driving alone or walking alone outdoors as the same as someone walking around with a tinfoil hat.”

    “Sorry, it’s not a sign of respect to enable someone’s mental illness.”

    “I chuckle to myself everytime I see these crazies in germ-laden society.”

    Many people view those who wear crosses around their necks the same way as those doing the ridiculing above. What is *truly* funny/ironic is how non-“Christians” are kinder and hew closer to the teachings of Christ than His ostensible followers who mock and judge others without knowing their circumstances or stories, and who are too lazy and incurious to find out.

    1. Robert Schrader Guest

      I am an atheist, not sure why you quoted me their.

  11. Stanley Morris Guest

    In September we had to wear masks on Lufthansa.

    1. Robert Schrader Guest

      Germany has been one of the worst countries on earth w/r/t the mask insanity.

  12. Kyle Guest

    Funny seeing the people wearing masks still but then take them off for food and drink because...covid stops then? They're still around people, but somehow it's safe all the sudden. That was always the most bizarre part of the stupid mandate.

    2 more replies
  13. zagman1112 Member

    What a joke! This is just hilarious and is complete nonsense. Covid is a cold now. Almost everyone I know has had Covid since it became the Omicron type and NOBODY had worse than a common cold. Sorry but there is nothing urgent about Covid anymore. It is no more dangerous than any other respiratory illness. And even the CDC finally admitted back when Omicron became dominant that masks that aren't a perfectly fitted N95...

    What a joke! This is just hilarious and is complete nonsense. Covid is a cold now. Almost everyone I know has had Covid since it became the Omicron type and NOBODY had worse than a common cold. Sorry but there is nothing urgent about Covid anymore. It is no more dangerous than any other respiratory illness. And even the CDC finally admitted back when Omicron became dominant that masks that aren't a perfectly fitted N95 or whatever are basically worthless. But by all means, keep on keeping on.

    2 more replies
  14. Dick Bupkiss Guest

    > I’m kind of surprised to see Brazil reintroduce a mask mandate for travel, especially as this comes as Bolsonaro is still in office.

    That's because the Tropical Trump isn't planning to leave office, election results be damned. It was a witch hunt!....er, I mean Stop the steal!!! His goons are currently gathering at military bases demanding a coup. Sound familiar?

  15. ScottyB Guest

    What's the definition of insanity? When will this nonsense end?

  16. 305 Guest

    I’ll say it for the 100th time the past two weeks: believe it or not, Iberia is still requiring masks

    Worst part is they don’t tell you until boarding, and refuse to provide one for you. No warning via email, no warning at check-in counter. They wait until you’re scanning your boarding pass and then send you scrambling into the terminal to try and buy one

    If flying Iberia, either show up prepared, or rebook onto another airline. You’ve been warned

    7 more replies
  17. CHRIS Guest

    I also support people wearing paper (or plastic) bags over their heads. The masks are good though as they serve as a warning sign to the rest of us.....kinda like facial tattoos. I chuckle to myself everytime I see these crazies in germ-laden society.

  18. Nick Guest

    How long should we expect to discuss masks? How can we have so little patience for so many things, but everlasting patience to talk about this?

  19. Al Guest

    I took covid very seriously and wore masks for a long time. But this seems nuts. We are well past the point where people can make decisions for themselves.

    If people want to wear masks, great. And if they don't, also great. For those that want extra protection, travelers have numerous tools at their disposal to protect themselves from infection (i.e. KN95 Masks) and serious illness in the event of infection (i.e. vaccines).

  20. derek Guest

    People have lousy medical judgment.

    Masks can be very effective. (Mantis asks which country. Mantis can be proven wrong if we have years to study the problem and a proctor/doctor for everybody to record the fit of mask, type of mask, how often worn, etc. There is some proof, though. ICU doctors and nurses working with Covid patients, wearing N95 mask and not getting sick themselves).

    1 more reply
  21. Mantis Guest

    The continued obsession with masks is fascinating. Please share with me what country was able to stop the virus with masks. They have proven to be completely ineffective, yet people still look to them to feel safe. It's truly a religion now. I view ppl wearing masks driving alone or walking alone outdoors as the same as someone walking around with a tinfoil hat. Continuing to believe that mask mandates are good public policy at...

    The continued obsession with masks is fascinating. Please share with me what country was able to stop the virus with masks. They have proven to be completely ineffective, yet people still look to them to feel safe. It's truly a religion now. I view ppl wearing masks driving alone or walking alone outdoors as the same as someone walking around with a tinfoil hat. Continuing to believe that mask mandates are good public policy at this point is on the same level of believing in ritual sacrifice to improve harvests.

    18 more replies
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derek Guest

People have lousy medical judgment. Masks can be very effective. (Mantis asks which country. Mantis can be proven wrong if we have years to study the problem and a proctor/doctor for everybody to record the fit of mask, type of mask, how often worn, etc. There is some proof, though. ICU doctors and nurses working with Covid patients, wearing N95 mask and not getting sick themselves).

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Mantis Guest

The continued obsession with masks is fascinating. Please share with me what country was able to stop the virus with masks. They have proven to be completely ineffective, yet people still look to them to feel safe. It's truly a religion now. I view ppl wearing masks driving alone or walking alone outdoors as the same as someone walking around with a tinfoil hat. Continuing to believe that mask mandates are good public policy at this point is on the same level of believing in ritual sacrifice to improve harvests.

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Ricky Guest

Masks are meant to minimize/slow the transmission, not stop it altogether as there is a small percentage of infection depending on how you wear the mask and the type of mask. Wearing of masks has been a tried and true health policy for over a century so "completely ineffective" is just not true. The fact that some people refused to wear masks did not help at all and the concept that it would have been worse without masks is also lost on that same people.

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