Florida judge invalidates US mandatory coronavirus masks for planes, public transportation

Monday’s decision by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of Tampa also said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention failed to justify its decision and did not follow appropriate rules.

The CDC recently extended the mask regulation, which was set to expire on April 18, to May 3 to allow more time to study the omicron BA.2 sub-variant of the coronavirus currently causing the majority of cases in the United States.

The requirement for masks for travelers was the target of months of lobbying from airlines, which sought to get rid of it. Carriers argue that the effective air filters on modern planes make in-flight virus transmission very unlikely. Republicans in Congress also fought to kill proxies.

Critics have embraced the fact that states have rolled back their rules requiring masks in restaurants, stores and other indoor settings, however, COVID-19 cases have plummeted since the turn of events. omicrons peak in mid-January.