January 2, 2022 – Orlando, Florida, United States – Travelers wait in line at a TSA security checkpoint at Orlando International Airport on January 2, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Holiday travel was plagued by thousands of cancelled and delayed flights in the United States, caused by bad weather and flight crew shortages due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto)NO USE FRANCE
The Transportation Security Administration announced it would be extending its mask mandate for planes, buses, trains and transit hubs for one month. The mandate, in place since last January, was set to expire next Friday. Thursday’s announcement extends it to April 18, 2022.
“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 TSA said in a statement. “This revised framework will be based on the COVID-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science.”
The CDC adopted a similar strategy when it relaxed its mask recommendation for the general public last month, saying people living in counties where COVID-19 is posing a low or medium threat to hospitals did not have to wear masks. At the time, this covered 72% of the U.S. population.
The mask requirements have resulted in significant friction on U.S. airplanes. The Federal Aviation Administration said since January 2021, there have been a record 6,800 unruly passenger incidents reported and 70% involved masking rules.
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.
