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Lack of a National COVID-19 Strategy Revealed

Air transportation is only one element that should have a national approach.

I think it is at the end of the movie Brave Heart when the hero is being disemboweled that he finally speaks and instead of asking for mercy, screams the word, "Freedom!" 

This is how many Americans are feeling about wearing masks. They want their freedom to be sick! Just as motorcycle riders want the ability to have their heads have direct contact with the pavement by not wearing a helmet. There is an old motorcycle saying, "There are two types of riders, those who have fallen and those who have yet to fall."

This "Freedom" cause has led to a very patchwork, state by state, locale by locale approach to fighting the spread of the coronavirus. Thus, we have no national strategy or policies on things like testing, travel and the like.

See this news release by one congressman calling for a national travel standard. What a concept!!

Rush Introduces Legislation to Protect Nation’s Transportation Workers, Travelers From Further Spread of COVID-19

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) introduced legislation requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide all frontline workers with necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to better protect them from coronavirus infection.  The Securing All Fundamental Equipment (SAFE) While Traveling Act would also require that all passengers at national airports and train stations wear PPE as well.

“During my travels to and from Washington, I was very disturbed to see the stunning lack of PPE being worn by my fellow passengers and even frontline workers.  I was also equally alarmed to hear personal reports from airport workers who say they wanted to wear PPE but were prevented from doing so by their employers. That’s why I led a group of 88 House Democrats calling on DOT and DHS to issue a directive requiring the use of masks by employees and customers back in April,” said Rep. Rush.

“Although I have been encouraged to see many airports and airlines providing PPE for frontline workers and requiring PPE to be worn by passengers since then, recent reports suggest that as many as 10 national airports do not require the use of PPE by travelers and employees. This is completely unacceptable and why I have introduced the SAFE While Traveling Act, which would federally mandate the use of lifesaving PPE by all passengers and employees in our nation’s airports and train stations.

“This legislation would not only protect our nation’s frontline workers, who are literally risking their lives to make sure that our planes and trains run on time, but it would also go a long way in helping to stop the spread of this dreaded disease as states ease stay-at-home orders and Americans begin traveling again.”

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Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.