US to extend mask mandate for planes and public transit by two weeks to monitor Covid BA.2 variant

The Biden administration is reportedly set to extend a nationwide mask requirement for public transit for an additional two weeks as it monitors cases of the coronavirus Omicron subvariant BA.2.

The federal transportation mask mandate was set to expire on April 18, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to extend the order to May 3, a source who previewed the action said on Wednesday morning. The action is out of an abundance of caution.

It is also being done to gather more information to understand the more contagious BA.2 variant, according to a Biden administration official.

‘Since early April, there have been increases in the 7-day moving average of cases in the US,’ the unnamed official told CNN.

‘In order to assess the potential impact, the rise of cases has on severe disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and health care system capacity, CDC is recommending that TSA extend the security directive to enforce mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs for 15 days, through May 3, 2022.’

The official continued: ‘This will give additional time for the CDC to learn more about BA.2 and make a best-informed decision.’

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which enforces the order for planes, trains buses and transit centers, extended the mandate last month. At the time, it said the CDC intended to unveil a more flexible masking rule to replace the requirement.

Coronavirus cases have dropped significantly since the Omicron variant surge in mid-January. A slight increase in cases from about 25,000 per day to 30,000 nationwide has occurred recently, driven by the more contagious BA.2 variant.

The BA.2 variant caused 86% of new coronavirus cases in the US last week, according to the CDC’s latest estimates.

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