The current federal requirement to mask on planes and other public transportation is set to expire Monday, April 18, but the Biden administration has yet to decide whether to extend or end the mandate. While travelers have mixed feelings about a possible extension, the"We need to remove these mandates," said Roger Dow, president of the U.S.
One of the big reasons this has become such a flashpoint is that it is one of the last bastions of mask mandates. COVID-19 restrictions were largely relaxed across the country following a wave of Omicron cases earlier this year. And even as cities likeamid a surge of infections in recent days, hospitalizations and deaths have not seen a major increase.
"We have an unpredictable virus with many variants. But we're seeing again and again these variants are less severe," Dow told CBS News' transportation correspondent Errol Barnett.to Dr. Ashish Jha, the new White House coronavirus response coordinator, several airline groups cited guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that says"the overwhelming majority of the country no longer needs to wear masks indoors.
Allie Malis, the government affairs representative for American Airlines' flight attendant union, said health and scientific data have to be"at the core" of any decision going forward. "We all look forward to the day when masks are no longer needed," she said."But until that day, it's really important that we're all cooperating."In the U.K., where coronavirus restrictions were dropped last month, multiple airlines have had to cancel more flights out of London than usual, citing
Extend. America has so many Europeans flying into New York, Philly, & Atlanta, the new variant is sure to spread more Gotta be careful! Let’s not start this insanity again. We’re almost free?