The decision of a federal judge to annul the mandate for the use of masks in public transport at the national level was received with joy by some passengers but also with concern and many doubts about how to proceed from now on, since the ruling leaves the last word to businesses and local authorities.
Passengers on a United Airlines flight from Houston to New York, for example, could dispose of their mask at the Texas airport and on the plane, but would have to wear it again once they land or take the subway to their destination.
A family at the Ronald Reagan airport in Washington DC on Monday. KEVIN LAMARQUE / REUTERS
What did the judge say and how did the government respond?
District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mask mandate is illegal on Monday, and the federal government indicated shortly after that the order was no longer in effect.
“We continue to encourage people to wear masks on public transportation, following CDC guidance.
If the CDC changes their assessment, and at some point they will, we will follow their guidance," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Tuesday.
[The pandemic doubled the mortality of Latinos in Los Angeles]
Should I continue to wear a mask in transport?
Major airlines and many of the busiest airports were quick to drop this requirement after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced it would waive the CDC rule as it has now on airplanes, airports, taxis and other means of transportation.
The decision now depends, therefore, on the airlines, transport companies, airports and local authorities.
The nation's major carriers and Amtrak trains said their passengers and employees are no longer required to carry it.
Reactions of disappointment and concern to the lifting of the mask mandate on public transport
April 18, 202201:56
But some mandates remain: those who take public transportation in New York City will have to continue using it, for example, as well as users of the Philadelphia airport.
Both Uber and Lyft also lifted the mandate, but customers who "feel uncomfortable will be able to cancel the trip."
What do the health authorities say?
The
CDC continues to recommend the use of masks indoors
and has said they need more time to analyze the impact of the BA.2 subvariant of omicron, which is now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the country.
Philadelphia, for example, reinstated the mask mandate in the face of rising cases.
What if I don't want to remove the mask?
Don't take it off.
The main airports lifted the mandatory requirements but agreed with the CDC in recommending the use of a mask, including Los Angeles, the fifth busiest in the world by passenger volume, and Salt Lake City, Utah, which announced that I would distribute masks to those who request them.
The morning news, Tuesday, April 19, 2022
April 19, 202212:37
Do I have to use it if I get sick?
You should because you can infect the people around you.
A leader of a flight attendants union said that beyond federal regulations,
people should still wear face coverings if they have COVID-19 or any other illness.
"I think if there's one thing we've learned from this [pandemic], it has to be about
common courtesy
," Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, told CNBC.
representing 50,000 flight attendants from 17 airlines.
Does the mask work if no one else wears it?
It's true that masks work best when everyone around you is wearing one.
When an infected person wears a mask, a large percentage of the infectious particles exhaled are trapped, stopping the spread of the virus.
But there is also evidence that masks protect the wearer, even when those around them are not wearing them.
The degree of protection depends on the quality of the mask and its fit.
John Swartzberg, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of California, Berkeley, recommended wearing
a well-fitting N95 mask
throughout the flight.
Mask mandate reinstated indoors in Philadelphia
April 18, 202200:36
Which airlines have lifted the mandate?
The main airlines that lifted the mandate are United, Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit and Frontier.
But on some international routes they may require the use of masks, depending on the rules of the destination country.
For its part, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) said on Twitter on Monday: “We ask for calm and consistency on planes and airports.
The last thing we need for frontline workers or commuting passengers is confusion and chaos.”
Check the latest airline updates for specific travel requirements, the aides added.