|
 The move extends the current requirements that were set to expire
March 18 by a month.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in statements Thursday
that CDC will work 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 TSA extension comes at the CDC's recommendation. Airline and
some government officials think this could be the last nationwide
extension of the mask requirements.
Airlines and travel groups last month called on the administration
by March 18 to "repeal the Federal mask mandate for public
transportation or provide a clear roadmap to remove the mask mandate
within 90 days."
The mask requirements have resulted in significant friction on U.S.
airplanes. The Federal Aviation Administration says since January
2021, there have been a record 6,800 unruly passenger incidents
reported -- and 70% involved masking rules.
The CDC last month eased its guidance for wearing masks. U.S.
government agencies have dropped mask requirements in federal
buildings in the Washington area and other places with low or medium
levels of COVID-19.
The CDC said last week that 93% of the U.S. population is in a
location where COVID levels are low enough that people do not need
to wear masks.
United Airlines said Thursday it would allow 2,200 unvaccinated
workers to return to their normal positions as the pandemic recedes.
The administration is also considering lifting requirements that
international visitors get a negative COVID-19 test within a day of
travel, officials said, as many countries have dropped testing
requirements. The administration requires foreign air travelers to
be vaccinated.
[to top of second column] |
 On Thursday, 31 Republican senators asked the
administration to end the mask and pre-departure
testing requirements. "It is time for the
federal government to recognize this reality,
follow the science, and reduce or eliminate
these restrictions immediately," Senator Roger
Wicker said.
The current CDC transit order, which has been in
place since soon after Biden took office in
January 2021, has been previously extended three
times and requires masks to be worn by all
travelers on airplanes, ships, trains, subways,
buses, taxis and ride-shares and at
transportation hubs such as airports, bus or
ferry terminals, train and subway stations, and
seaports.
His predecessor, President Donald Trump,
rejected requests from U.S. public health
agencies to impose the requirements in transit -
even though airlines and some other
transportation modes had required masks.
Last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
sued the Biden administration over the
transportation mask mandate.
"Seat-belt laws likewise took away the 'liberty'
to choose driving (or flying) without a seat
belt, but losing that choice was not irreparable
harm," the Justice Department said in response,
adding the court should reject Paxton's lawsuit.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu
Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis and Aurora Ellis)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
