U.S. Justice Department appeals transportation mask ruling -Breaking
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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO – Travellers in masks and those not in masks line up at a Delta Airlines counter after a Florida federal judge revoked the CDC’s order to mask public transport due to coronavirus (COVID-19), prevention efforts.By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department appealed Wednesday’s judge’s decision to end a mandate for masks on airplanes and public transport after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the measure was still necessary.
The mandates which are applicable to trains and planes as well as public transportation were declared illegal by a U.S. district court judge on Monday. If the CDC determines that the mandate, which is now 14 months old, was still necessary, the Justice Department stated it will appeal the decision.
The Justice Department appealed the ruling to 11th Circuit Court. However, it didn’t specify whether or not it wanted to request an emergency order to restore the requirement.
On Wednesday, CDC announced that it had asked Justice Department for permission to appeal the decision and said “an order requiring masking of the indoor transport corridor is still necessary for the public’s health.”
The mandate was quickly dropped by airlines Monday night, shortly after being announced by the White House to reporters and industry representatives that it would not be enforced any longer. On social media, users uploaded videos featuring airline staff on flights to announce that the mandate had been lifted mid-flight. Many cheered and some were angry at the sudden removal of mask regulations.
The mandate covered planes and trains as well as ride-share and public transport. It was due to end on May 3, unless extended by the CDC.
U.S. Travel Association Wednesday stated that masks had been crucial in the peak of pandemics but are now “required to mask on public transportation” because of current health issues.
This ruling follows other court judgements against Biden’s directives regarding the fight against an infectious disease that has claimed nearly 1,000,000 lives in America, which included mandates for employers to get vaccinated or undergo COVID testing.
The CDC lost legal battles regarding COVID-19 mandates. This was especially true when the Supreme Court ended in August the federal pandemic-related moratorium on residential evictions.
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