US court overturns mask requirement on public transport

The mask requirement on US public transportation and airplanes will not be enforced for the time being. A federal judge had previously declared the order invalid.

In the USA, there is no longer a nationwide corona mask requirement on public transport for the time being. A federal judge declared the rule invalid.

The CDC, the national health authority, exceeded its powers with the corresponding order, according to the decision of the Florida state judge published on Monday.

The procedure for such regulations had not been followed. The Tampa court overturned the ruling and referred it back to the Board of Health. For the time being, passengers on planes, trains and other means of transport will no longer have to wear masks.

For the time being, security personnel are no longer enforcing instructions

A group calling itself the “Health Freedom Defense Fund” had filed the lawsuit against the mask requirement. An average of 36,251 new infections per day are currently being registered in the USA. The White House has described the court decision as “disappointing”. “We continue to recommend people to wear masks,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.

A government official said in the evening (local time): “The authorities are reviewing the decision and considering possible further steps.” For the time being, the mask requirement decreed by the CDC is no longer in force. The Transport Security Authority (TSA) will initially no longer enforce the regulation. However, the CDC still recommends wearing masks on public transport.

President Joe Biden made masks compulsory on public transport shortly after taking office in January 2021. A few days later, the CDC health authority ordered that mouth and nose protection must be worn on airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis and similar means of transport. The obligation also applies in airports, train stations and ports.

The regulation was extended several times, most recently until the beginning of May. In recent months there has been increasing resistance, including from airlines.