Masks required at Southwest Florida International, Page Field starting Tuesday

Federal law will require mask-wearing at all times in and at Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field starting Tuesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a mask-wearing rule on Jan. 29 that builds on an order announced Jan. 21 by President Joe Biden.

The rule “will protect Americans and provide confidence that we can once again travel safely even during this pandemic,” said Dr. Marty Cetron, director of CDC’s division of migration and quarantine, who signed the order.

The rule also applies to passengers on trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-shares. It says travelers must wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth while riding and while getting on and off rides. The order extends to waiting areas such as airports, train platforms and subway stations. Travelers can take masks off for eating and drinking.

The 11-page CDC order takes effect just before midnight Monday night. It makes refusal to wear a mask a violation of federal law, enforced by the Transportation Security Administration and other federal, state and local authorities.

The Lee County Port Authority said that failure to comply may result in removal and denial of re-entry.

The CDC rule also:

• Requires the wearing of masks while on airport property;
• Boarding only those persons who wear masks;
• Notifying all persons that failure to comply with the mask requirement constitutes a violation of federal law; and
• Disembarking and removing any person who refuses to comply with the Order and TSA Directive.

Security Directive SD 1542-21-01 exempts the following categories of persons from wearing masks:

• Children under the age of 2.
• People with disabilities who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of the disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).
• People for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty as determined by the relevant workplace safety guidelines or federal regulations.