The U.S. Travel Association is now officially encouraging the wearing of masks and other healthy travel practices as we head into the Fourth of July holiday weekend and throughout the summer travel season, in an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).
In a statement, U.S. Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement: "While Americans move about certain regions of the country, we are keenly aware of the increase in cases as we head into the Fourth of July holiday weekend, traditionally a busy period for travel. The travel community strongly urges visitors and residents alike to wear masks and adhere to all healthy practices, such as physical distancing, frequent hand washing and remaining home if sick—no matter where you may be traveling in the country.
"A wealth of information from medical experts points to the value of mask wearing as a key tool in preventing the spread of infection. Health and safety are paramount to restarting travel and putting Americans back to work, and our industry's recovery is contingent on businesses and travelers alike doing their part to ensure a healthy and safe travel experience for all along the journey."
According to Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, more than half of the states are seeing increases in COVID-19 cases, with Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana, among others, seeing a sharp incline. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that “cloth face coverings are an additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with every day preventive actions and social distancing in public settings.
Previously, U.S. Travel's debuted its Travel Confidently toolkit, which includes resources for encouraging healthy travel practices.
This article originally appeared on www.travelagentcentral.com.
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