The mandate, which the federal government confirmed on Wednesday, now expires on May 3rd. The Associated Press was the first to announce the extension. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday it was keeping its order on masks in force, and the Transportation Security Administration said it was extending its mandate by an additional 15 days.
“The CDC continues to monitor the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, especially the BA.2 sub-variant, which now accounts for more than 85% of US cases,” the TSA said in a statement. “Since the beginning of April 2022, there has been an increase in the 7-day moving average of Covid-19 cases in the United States. … The TSA will continue to coordinate closely with the CDC and communicate any changes to this requirement to the public. “
In its own statement, the CDC said: “In order to assess the potential impact of the increase in cases on serious illnesses, including hospitalizations and deaths, and the capacity of the health system, the CDC’s order will remain in force today.”
According to the latest CDC estimates, BA.2 caused 86% of new Covid-19 cases nationwide last week.
A Biden administration official familiar with Wednesday’s decision told CNN that the purpose of the extension was to gather more information and understanding about the BA.2 coronavirus variant.
The United States now records an average of 38,345 new cases of Covid-19 a day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Cases are on the rise in more than half of the states – including all but one state in northeastern Delaware. But the daily rate is still one of the lowest since mid-July.
According to the CDC’s latest ensemble forecast, there may be just over 11,000 additional deaths over the next four weeks, one of the lowest estimates for 2022.
The number of new global Covid-19 deaths and deaths also continued to decline by 24% and 18%, respectively, during the week of April 4-10 compared to the previous week, the World Health Organization said in its weekly epidemiological update released on Tuesday.
But the WHO and its International Health Regulations Committee (IHR) said on Wednesday that the Covid-19 pandemic remains a public health emergency of international concern, a designation originally made in January 2020.
In many places in the United States, the widespread requirement for people to wear masks in public places has been removed. The transport mandate applies to mass transport, including aircraft, trains, buses and hubs such as airports.
The term was set to expire on April 18th. Covid-19 White House Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Ja told CNN on Monday that the CDC plans to share a scientific framework for the federal transport mask mandate this week.
Asked by CNN’s John Berman what he personally thinks about removing mandates for transport masks, Ja said: “I think these decisions should always be guided by science and evidence and a framework, a scientific framework that helps us make smart decisions. for them.
“We will see what they come up with. And based on that, I think we will want to make a decision based on some facts on the ground and the science and the scientific framework that we have. ”
Transport Secretary Pete Buttigig told an event in Indiana on Wednesday that he said “we are all ready for the day we can move on from these mandates”, but said the country should monitor and mitigate emerging versions of Covid-19. .
“We need to make sure that everything we do is responsible for public health. On the one hand, we are in better shape than ever thanks to the vaccinations that have taken place and the boosters that people have received. On the other hand, we have these options that have emerged and we need to keep a close eye on them. So I hope that we are on the way forward, in the end, that takes us out of these mandates, “he said.
Last month, the White House extended the mandate of the transportation mask, originally established at the beginning of Biden’s presidency, until April 18. The White House said government agencies would consult with the CDC on the circumstances in which the mandate could be returned.
Initially, flight crew unions applauded the measure to protect staff who cannot avoid close contact with passengers, but some airlines have recently called for an end to the mandate.
A group of airline CEOs said they wanted it over. The union representing the stewardesses of Southwest Airlines asked the Biden administration in March to “lift the mandate of the federal masks as soon as possible.” A group of 21 states, as well as groups of pilots and flight attendants, demanded that federal courts end their term in March.
The mandate has also led to conflicts with passengers in the sky.
The Federal Aviation Administration says that since the beginning of 2022, there have been about 744 incidents of unruly passengers involving face masks reported to the agency by airline crews.
This story and its title have been updated with additional reports and statements.
Add Comment