U.S. to extend transit mask mandate through mid-March, sources say
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Orlando International Airport is home to passengers wearing masks on their faces as an anti-covid-19 measure. The Transportation Security Administration extended federal mask mandate that was due to expire May 11th, 2021, until September 13th, for all passengers flying over 2 years old.
Paul Hennessy | LightRocket | Getty Images
President Joe Biden’s administration will extend requirements for travelers to wear masks on airplanes, trains and buses and at airports and train stations through mid-March, sources briefed on the matter told Reuters, amid concerns about a new Covid-19 variant.
A formal announcement extending the requirements through March 18 is expected on Thursday, the sources said. White House, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and other sources declined to comment. The TSA in August extended the transportation mask order through Jan. 18.
Biden plans to discuss the U.S. strategy for fighting Covid-19 this winter on Thursday and the transit mask extension is expected to be part of his remarks.
Additionally, the White House plans to issue stricter international visitor testing requirements. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed late on Tuesday it is working to impose stricter Covid-19 testing rules for air travelers entering the United States amid concerns about the Omicron variant.
The first known U.S. case of the Omicron variant was confirmed on Wednesday – a fully vaccinated person in California who returned to the United States from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive seven days later.
United States bans all foreigners who are citizens of eight African nations. On Tuesday, the CDC advised airlines that all foreign nationals who had been to eight southern African countries would be barred from entering the United States. They will also require them to provide contact information about passengers for those travelers to send it to government and public health agencies.
The current CDC order, which has been in place since soon after Biden took office in January, 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, 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.
Government agencies briefed industry officials about the change late on Wednesday, sources told Reuters.
Resilience is caused by
The mask requirements have been the source of friction, especially aboard U.S. airlines, where some travelers have refused to wear masks.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which has instituted a “zero tolerance” enforcement effort on unruly passengers, said on Tuesday that since Jan. 1, it had received reports from airlines of 3,923 passengers refusing to wear masks.
In some U.S. states, transportation hubs are among the only places where masks are still required.
White House is currently discussing a variety of international test enhancements.
Current regulations allow international travelers to present negative results within 3 days after their initial departure. A majority of foreign nationals need to be vaccinated before entering the United States. All travelers who are not currently vaccinated must have a positive Covid-19 test completed within one-day of their arrival.
The CDC plans to announce a new one-day testing requirement that would apply equally to U.S. citizens as well as foreign nationals and could take effect as early as next week.
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