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.
In this post:
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
Please provide the sources for this statement. PMID will do. Thank you.
Someone gets DTS some search engine training.
Thank you
Buddy, that's not how it works, if you make a claim you have to provide a source and not tell me to look it up myself. I assume you do not have an advanced degree.
Lula leftism in action
Not until Jan 1
Anytime a masking topic comes up on a travel blog, I brace myself for the Dunning–Kruger effect in the comments section.
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.
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.
Just back from Italy. No mask mandates anywhere, not on planes, at airports, on public transport, in churches etc.
Italy had mandates until pretty recently. Their new Prime Minister finally lifted all mandates (masks, injections…) during her first few days in office
Italy doesn’t require them. Flew in on Lufthansa and had an ITA flight, no masks at all for either. None on metro or bus in Rome either.
FCO was just like DFW, couldn’t find a mask at any shop until I begged the third one I went to and magically a 5 pack appeared from under the counter
In all honesty I'm surprised 85% of the passengers came unprepared for this. Just some basic online research would inform anyone regarding Iberia's continued rules beforehand.
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"
Google " peer reviewed studies that say the don't work"
Reducing transmission has likely lengthened the pandemic phase, initially buying for vaccines to be developed and used, but at this stage does not work necessarily in our favor, and not just about one respiratory virus which is covid-19 but about the cauldron of other seasonal respiratory agents that can be cornerstone in the relentless development of our immune system.
Having said that, individuals who feel safer and are fragile should be encouraged to wear...
Reducing transmission has likely lengthened the pandemic phase, initially buying for vaccines to be developed and used, but at this stage does not work necessarily in our favor, and not just about one respiratory virus which is covid-19 but about the cauldron of other seasonal respiratory agents that can be cornerstone in the relentless development of our immune system.
Having said that, individuals who feel safer and are fragile should be encouraged to wear a mask, but those who are not fragile and at low risk (the overwhelming majority) should not be forced into a measure unnecessary and of unproven benefit. I don’t think most of us are either pro- or no-mask talibans. We just would appreciate a bit of common sense, given that Covid has been with us for three years, seems not more threatening than a common cold to most, and a dogmatic approach to the experts’ various edicts has not been always successful
Indonesia still requires masks.
Masks should be optional forever. If you want to protect yourself, wear one.
If you don't, don't.
Simple.
“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.
I am an atheist, not sure why you quoted me their.
In September we had to wear masks on Lufthansa.
Germany has been one of the worst countries on earth w/r/t the mask insanity.
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.
Infectious disease 101 for you: the risk of an infection increase with: load of infectious particle, exposure time, barriers, proximity, entry point. While wearing the mask throughout 100% of the flight would no doubt be better, reducing potential exposure time by wearing a mask during the non oral intake times (and particularly a FA wearing one when they serve the food) would significantly reduce the risk of infection.
Nothing is ever going to work 100%,...
Infectious disease 101 for you: the risk of an infection increase with: load of infectious particle, exposure time, barriers, proximity, entry point. While wearing the mask throughout 100% of the flight would no doubt be better, reducing potential exposure time by wearing a mask during the non oral intake times (and particularly a FA wearing one when they serve the food) would significantly reduce the risk of infection.
Nothing is ever going to work 100%, that is something that the broad public finally has to understand. This is universally applicable to anything in medicine. Even taking an aspirin is not 100% safe.
Thank you for this reply. People, wear or don't wear, but please stop using the 'whats the point if you can take it off to eat' logic to not wear a mask. Read DTS succinct explaination.
I’m old enough to remember when the government required auto makers to install seatbelts in cars. You should have heard the arguments against this fascist move by our heavy handed federal government. Airbags created even more of a furor. Many folks said they wouldn’t save any lives and, in fact, they would trap drivers in their cars and kill them. When a drunk driver, going 100mph, hit a tree and was killed while wearing a...
I’m old enough to remember when the government required auto makers to install seatbelts in cars. You should have heard the arguments against this fascist move by our heavy handed federal government. Airbags created even more of a furor. Many folks said they wouldn’t save any lives and, in fact, they would trap drivers in their cars and kill them. When a drunk driver, going 100mph, hit a tree and was killed while wearing a seatbelt, it was “proof” that seatbelts/airbags didn’t work. It’s funny how some of today’s arguments about the effectiveness of masks sounds so much like the arguments against seatbelts and airbags back then.
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.
Please explain to me how you think it got to all this sub-variants. With every single infection the risk rises of a new "devil's" variant. The only way to undermine this is by keeping infection rates low. It is far form being "a cold". No other virus in the last decades mutated this quickly and at the same time was so highly contagious.
This virus will never go away. The same applies to every other respiratory disease. We can´t live with fear.
I agree
> 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?
What's the definition of insanity? When will this nonsense end?
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
Flying them tomorrow. Are they particular about the type of mask? They state " the use of a surgical mask or one providing greater protection (without an exhalation valve), covering the nose and mouth, is compulsory for everyone aged six and over". Not sure if they deem a surgical mask to be an N95. Different countries....
Most folks had surgical masks, no issues there
And bring bottles of water if you don’t want to be dehydrated. The FAs are using COVID as an excuse to minimize service; even in business class it was nearly impossible to get a glass of water
They allowed simple masks on my flights TFN-MAD-BCN last week and were relaxed on board when drinking and eating...
During OLCI, Iberia requires to ratify the mask mandate imposed by the Spanish government.
Yes, the simple masks are fine and can be removed for eating and drinking. The service is back to normal, which however means on shorthaul Y it’s BOB.
They don’t care what kind of mask and enforcement was not particularly overbearing . Strangely you are all James up on the hang way but they make you put it on at the door . Truly idiotic .
Air Europa did email notifications before my FCO-MAD-TFN flights two weeks ago...,they are relaxed on board when drinking / eating - both sectors on partly full 787 business class .
Taxi drivers on Tenerife insisting on masks but not in BArcelona
100,000% agreed on everything! Same here 2 weeks ago DFW-MAD-GVA all on Iberia booked through AA. Zero warning. Then I ran to 5 stores at the airport, they literally laughed at me and said "no one requires it so we stopped selling them", Admirals Lounge had none, FINALLY went back to TSA and the Agent also chuckled and went in the back for like 10 min and came back with a dusty box and gave...
100,000% agreed on everything! Same here 2 weeks ago DFW-MAD-GVA all on Iberia booked through AA. Zero warning. Then I ran to 5 stores at the airport, they literally laughed at me and said "no one requires it so we stopped selling them", Admirals Lounge had none, FINALLY went back to TSA and the Agent also chuckled and went in the back for like 10 min and came back with a dusty box and gave me some. Was even worse in Geneva to try and get one, and numerous passengers in Madrid got refused at the gate. Agreed that they aren't too overbearing on the flights, but they also don't serve the customers that much either. And what's hilarious is that their website says "Disposable Masks must be replaced for a new one every 2 hours". Like really??? I will not fly them again after this experience.
Thanks to everyone who responded. Made sure I had a mask with me. I flew Lisbon yo Madrid. The FAs Mae everyone wear a mask - and did provide them if a person did not have one. Once the meal came out (I was in business), everyone took them off - and a lot left them off.
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.
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?
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).
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).
Indeed. Here's yet another peer-reviewed study with controls using real-life data, one showing REDUCTION in infections in schools due to mask mandates in the US: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2211029
The number of peer-reviewed studies showing that masks don't work is exactly ZERO.
Do you actually know any doctors who work in a hospital? My wife was on a sabbatical until December 2021. Within a month of returning to the hospital and always wearing an N95 mask and not ever taking it off (she would go outside to eat or drink) she caught covid.
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.
It is best not to generalize. Persons with certain medical conditions are advised to wear masks. These people can't afford to take the risk. I have a family member who died of COVID. I have two family members with medical conditions identified as highly vulnerable to COVID. So, if you see someone wearing a mask, perhaps cut them some slack.
“Cut them some slack” for engaging in a meaningless ritual that doesn’t reduce their risk at all? Sorry, it’s not a sign of respect to enable someone’s mental illness.
PS Speaking of "truly a religion," one family was in the camp of COVID was fake. COVID was a ploy by the liberals to control the masses. The father died of COVID. The mom and the daughters all agreed that no one could know that the dad died of COVID . . . because it would undermine their position that COVID was fake. The "religion" characterization fits on both sides.
Another Trump QAnon clown
Actually, I agree with Mantis. Mask use hasn't been demonstrated to slow the spread of COVID with any efficacy. And I see some of the stupidest people on Earth walking around outside in the wind or alone in the car with masks on. Truly idiots (and also clearly fans of the present corpse who lives at 1800 PA Ave.).
@stogieguy7: Your last sentence destroyed whatever credibility you may have conveyed at the beginning of your post
Another moron. It doesn’t stop but prevents. If no one wore masks during its peak, and there were no restrictions, the death /sickness rate would be considerably higher.
A pity there isn’t a cure for stupidity.
Hey Stogieguy. Please let me know who lives at 1800. And oh yes masks stop a lot of transmission. For a lot of stuff. Been working for years. Try it!
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.
I found myself wearing an N95 outside yesterday, on my own, doing yardwork. I realized how weird it must appear to an outsider. I could excuse it with protecting myself from allergies, but the reality is I'm wearing one inside because I have COVID, and an older family member is visiting (I told them I had it, and they didn't want to change their plans, also, they recently recovered from it themselves). I simply forgot...
I found myself wearing an N95 outside yesterday, on my own, doing yardwork. I realized how weird it must appear to an outsider. I could excuse it with protecting myself from allergies, but the reality is I'm wearing one inside because I have COVID, and an older family member is visiting (I told them I had it, and they didn't want to change their plans, also, they recently recovered from it themselves). I simply forgot to take it off when I went out.
In the past I've also forgot to taken it off initially when driving somewhere.
So making a judgment on when/why someone is wearing a mask is folly.
correct.
not a single research study has ever been published that masks have stopped covid transmission in real life on airplanes.
Vaccines worked to reduce the risk of death in high risk people early during the pandemic but the virus itself is far less deadly now than it was 2 years ago.
And the risk factors for covid are still very much risk factors for other diseases which have killed far more...
correct.
not a single research study has ever been published that masks have stopped covid transmission in real life on airplanes.
Vaccines worked to reduce the risk of death in high risk people early during the pandemic but the virus itself is far less deadly now than it was 2 years ago.
And the risk factors for covid are still very much risk factors for other diseases which have killed far more people and will continue to kill more people - including obesity, respiratory diseases, and diabetes, each of which would reduce all kinds of mortality if addressed.
Other respiratory illnesses are far more significant right now including RSV and the flu; as with covid, masks might slow spread but betting your life on a mask makes little sense. If you're really at risk of respiratory diseases, being in public - period - is probably not in your best interest.
To Tim Dunn:" the virus itself is far less deadly"
But still deadly and still morphing through every transmission. The goal is/was to stop the morphing through stopping transmission. Then we should be in a better position to end this cycle. And maybe, at some point the travel industry will stabilize. Part of the ultimate goal. Otherwise Covid will continue as a sleeper threat and disruption. If masking ruins your day I suggest you...
To Tim Dunn:" the virus itself is far less deadly"
But still deadly and still morphing through every transmission. The goal is/was to stop the morphing through stopping transmission. Then we should be in a better position to end this cycle. And maybe, at some point the travel industry will stabilize. Part of the ultimate goal. Otherwise Covid will continue as a sleeper threat and disruption. If masking ruins your day I suggest you use more forward thinking. And indeed this is not the only viral illness out there
Maryland,
in jurisdiction after jurisdiction around the world, when travel is allowed to resume normal interactions, people have flooded the skies at levels as high or higher than pre-covid.
If given a choice, the vast majority of people choose not to mask.
the vast majority of people simply don't see covid as the mortal risk it once was. You can call the average person stupid but these are the people that share...
Maryland,
in jurisdiction after jurisdiction around the world, when travel is allowed to resume normal interactions, people have flooded the skies at levels as high or higher than pre-covid.
If given a choice, the vast majority of people choose not to mask.
the vast majority of people simply don't see covid as the mortal risk it once was. You can call the average person stupid but these are the people that share the earth with you.
And given that people around the world are protesting or have protested strict covid protections, including at the largest Iphone plant in the world (in communist China).
Covid restrictions are not sustainable. People will and should make their own health choices. If you (or they) don't agree with the actions of the general public, you should probably just stay away from other people.
Mantis is ignoring facts and science.
And that is the nicest thing I can say.
@Mantis: Did you do "your own research"? Let's start with you explaining to us what you think a virus and an aerosol are. And then next what you think how a mutation and virus evolution work. And after that what you think the objective of any public health mandate related to Covid is.
What I want to know is why you would follow an aviation/travel blog if you’re so afraid of covid that you’re still masking after almost three years? It’s probably best that you spend the rest of your life indoors if you’re this scared of your own shadow.
Wear or don't wear, your choice. But masking is not effective in transmitting disease? If you ever need surgery, please ask the OR staff to remove their masks.
I simply cannot listen to this stupid argument anymore. Surgical masks are use to prevent BACTERIA transmission, not VIRAL. They are ineffective and have never been used or intended (until now) to prevent viral transmission.
Simple: masks aren't that uncomfortable and many time it's easier to simple keep it one than continuously remove it and put it back on. You should try, tin hat person of the anti-science religion.