The US extends mask requirement for Airlines and Railways for extra 30 days

The Biden administration Thursday extended the federal public transportation mask mandate for another 30 days, despite COVID-19 cases plummeting around the country and states lifting similar restrictions.

In a statement, the Transportation Security Administration said the mandate was being extended until April 18 at the recommendation of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The extension was first reported by CNN and means Americans will still have to wear face coverings while on board planes, trains, and buses, as well as inside public transportation facilities like airports.

The TSA statement added that the policy will be reviewed again next month. It had been set to expire March 18. “During that time, CDC will work with 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 statement read. “This revised framework will be based on the COVID-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science. We will communicate any updates publicly if and/or when they change.”

Two industry officials and a government official also told the outlet that airline industry stakeholders have been made aware of the upcoming announcement by federal officials.

In the aftermath of the Omicron variant, which spread around the US during the holiday season, positive cases of COVID-19 have drastically dropped. As of Tuesday, the seven-day average of daily new cases stood at 37,879, according to the CDC, down 31.2 percent from the previous week.

As spring gets closer and the weather gets warmer, lawmakers from both parties have called on the administration to lift federal regulations, with local and state leaders taking charge. Earlier this month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced patrons at restaurants, gyms and indoor venues will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination. Hawaii will become the last state to drop its masking requirements later this month

Even the CDC has relaxed its masking guidance, announcing last month that wearing a mask is no longer recommended in indoor public spaces, including schools, in low-risk areas. Masking up is still advised for high-risk communities, and people in areas of medium risk should consider wearing them.

New York Post