Mask Mandate for Planes, Public Transit Extended to April 18

March 10, 2022

Passengers on airliners and public transportation will likely be required to put on face masks not less than till April 18, the Transportation Security Administration introduced Thursday.

TSA’s masks mandate, imposed to assist cease the unfold of COVID-19, had been scheduled to run out March 18. The rule went into impact in February 2021 and was prolonged twice. People may be fined in the event that they don’t put on masks on planes, trains, buses, and ships or in airports, practice and bus stations, and ports.

“At CDC’s recommendation, TSA will extend the security directive for mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs for one month, through April 18th,” an announcement from the TSA mentioned.

“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. 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.”

Many state and native governments are dropping face masks guidelines because the Omicron surge subsides. A current shift in federal COVID steerage means the massive majority of Americans now dwell in locations the place face masks should not required in indoor public areas.

Airlines and foyer teams such because the American Public Transportation Association urged the Biden administration to let the mandate lapse.

“For the past two years, public transportation agencies have supported and enforced federal policies created to combat COVID-19,” APTA mentioned in a letter to the White House. “We believe these efforts played an important part in our nation’s collective fight against COVID-19. However, an extension of the mask mandate beyond March 18 is likely to increase the growing enforcement challenges faced by public transit agencies today.”

The Association of Flight Attendants supported an extension of the masks rule. The union mentioned letting it expire would put some passengers at risk, comparable to the kids below 5 who haven’t been vaccinated, in response to Bloomberg.