US Extends Nationwide Mask Mandate on Planes, Mass Transit Until Mid-April; CDC Prepares New Rules

The United States Government has extended the mandate of mask-wearing on airplanes, trains, buses, and other mass transportations until April 18, as public health experts formulate new guidelines on mask requirements.

Per Reuters, in statements released Thursday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it will collaborate with other government agencies "to help inform a revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor."

The Biden administration earlier set the lifting of the current mask requirements on March 18 but decided to extend it.

As of March 3, more than 90% of the US residents live in a community with low or medium COVID-19 Community Levels, making public face-masking in indoor conditions optional. This could be the final nationwide extension of the mask restrictions, according to airline and government authorities.

Calls To Repeal the Rules

Last month, airlines and travel organizations urged the administration to "repeal the Federal mask mandate for public transportation or give a clear roadmap to remove the mask rule within 90 days" by March 18.

CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said earlier this month that they need to look "not only at the science to transmission in masks but also the epidemiology and the frequency that we may encounter a variant of concern or a variant of interest in our travel.

She said that the agency was delaying removing the requirement for public transit but allowed people to assemble without wearing masks in cinemas and sports coliseums, as per Forbes.

Last month, the CDC relaxed its mask-wearing mandates at federal buildings in the Washington region, and US government agencies have removed other places with low or medium levels of COVID-19. The agency said 93 %of the population of the United States lives in an area where COVID levels are low enough that people no longer need to wear masks.

CDC Prepares Updated Guidelines

The CDC is creating an "updated policy framework" for when masks should be required on transit systems based on its newly announced "COVID-19 community levels" statistics, according to the official requesting anonymity the announcement ahead of time.

Shortly after President Biden assumed office in January 2021, the administration compelled air, bus, and rail travelers to wear masks, including at airports and train stations.

Over the last year, the federal government has frequently extended it, most recently in December.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, arguments over mask mandates were responsible for more than 71% of the 5,981 incidents of rowdy airline passenger behavior last year per CNBC.

Last week, CDC Director Walensky reiterated the agency's recommendation for Americans to continue wearing masks indoors and in schools despite declining case rates. However, the agency's recommendations have fallen on deaf ears among some state leaders, as many Democrat-led states like California, New York, and New Jersey began lifting or loosening their mask mandates for schools or businesses.