Vice President Joe Biden appeared on The Today Show and told Matt Lauer that he would not advise his family to go in confined spaces like airplanes and subway systems.

“I would tell members of my family — and I have — I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now,” Biden said. “It’s not that it’s going to Mexico. It’s [that] you’re in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That’s me.”

The White House went into damage control, backpedaling furiously by advising that only those who are feeling sick should avoid public transportation. They also advised any travel to Mexico.

Those who take public transportation should not avoid it over the fear of contracting swine flu, but rather, just use precaution. Wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and stay home if you’re sick.