One of new US President Joe Biden's first tasks in the Oval Office was to sign an executive order mandating the wearing of masks on all flights.

The executive order requires passengers to wear face coverings during interstate travel on planes, trains and buses.

Although airlines have imposed their own rules demanding passengers wear masks, the Trump administration had refused to make it a federal mandate.

Airlines and union leaders have been calling for federal intervention due to the sheer number of incidents of passengers refusing to follow the airlines' rules.

It was one of several executive actions specifically aimed at addressing the Covid-19 problem in the United States.

A Trump-era travel ban that was upheld by the US Supreme Court over two years ago is now no longer valid after the new President signed another executive order rescinding an outright ban on travellers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and other nations.  President Biden is proposing a review by State Department and Homeland Security leaders of current vetting procedures and information-sharing. He also ordered the resumption of visa application processing. Biden called the original bans discriminatory, saying “they have jeopardised our global network of alliances and partnerships.”

www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/21/executive-order-promoting-covid-19-safety-in-domestic-and-international-travel