The Biden Administration announced today that the mask mandate for transportation has been extended for 15 more days. It was set to expire April 18, after a month-long extension in March, the third extension since the order went into effect, as ordered by the Biden Administration for travel on planes, buses, trains, and taxis in January of 2021.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is blaming a sub-variant of the omicron variant of Covid-19.
“Since early April, there have been increases in the 7-day moving average of cases in the U.S. In order to assess the potential impact the rise of cases has on severe disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and health care system capacity, the CDC Order will remain in place at this time,” the CDC said on Wednesday.
The CDC has ordered the mandate to remain through May 3.
Airlines have asked the administration to end the mask mandate, which has caused hard feelings between travelers and the airlines. Employees who are forced to enforce the mandate have suffered verbal abuse and resistance from passengers in the 15 months since the federal mandate started.
Read: Will TSA extend mask mandate?
