Tag Archives: face masks

Axios reports: United, American, Delta and Southwest Airlines all announced that mask requirements would be suspended in the U.S., and on select international flights, effective immediately. JetBlue Airways said Monday evening that masks would be optional in the U.S. Face masks are also now optional onboard all Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Uber announced Tuesday that riders and drivers are …

CNN reports: A federal judge in Florida struck down on Monday the Biden administration’s mask mandate for airplanes and other public transport methods, and a Biden administration official says the order is no longer in effect while the ruling is reviewed. US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said the mandate was unlawful because it exceeded the statutory authority of the …

The Associated Press reports: A federal judge in Florida has voided the national mask mandate covering airplanes and other public transportation as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials. The decision Monday by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa also said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention improperly failed to justify its decision and did not follow …

NBC News reports: The Biden administration will extend for two weeks the nationwide mask requirement for public transit as it monitors an uptick in COVID-19 cases, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to the Associated Press and NBC News. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was set to extend the order, which was to expire on April 18, by …

Philadelphia’s NBC News affiliate reports: With COVID-19 cases slowly rising, Philadelphia is bringing back its indoor mask mandate for public places, schools and day cares. Philadelphia announced Monday that, on April 18, masks must be worn again indoors. Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole said businesses can choose to be mask-free if they require all employees and visitors to prove they have …

The Hill reports: A top White House COVID-19 adviser on Monday said that extending the federal mask mandate for all transportation networks, which is set to expire next week, is “absolutely” under consideration. “This is a CDC decision and I think it is absolutely on the table,” White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha said on NBC’s “Today” show, referring …

Hawaii News Now reports: Since its launch, 12 million passengers were screened through the state’s Safe Travels program launched in a bid to welcome visitors back amid the pandemic. But at 11:59 p.m. Friday, Safe Travels was no more. The state has stopped checking for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. They’ve stopped requiring incoming passengers to take …

The Birmingham News reports: A north Alabama sheriff’s deputy is no longer with his agency and another was disciplined after they allegedly caused a “rowdy” scene at the Birmingham airport when they allegedly cursed at officers and refused to wear masks and were drunk on their flight. Authorities were called to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport around 5:36 p.m. Feb. 26 after …

The New York Daily News reports: As long as New York’s coronavirus infection risk remains low, the city’s youngest kids won’t have to wear face masks in school anymore starting next month, Mayor Adams announced Tuesday amid concerns that a new COVID variant will continue to drive cases upward. Adams, who dropped the mask requirement for K-12 students on March …

The BBC reports: The UK’s largest airport has dropped mandatory face masks for passengers. Heathrow Airport no longer requires people to wear them in its terminals, railway stations or office buildings but will continue to recommend they do so. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are the latest airlines to relax their policies on face coverings. Passengers must still wear them …

Roll Call reports: The Senate voted 57-40 to overturn a federal requirement that passengers on U.S. airplanes and other modes of public transportation wear masks. The Congressional Review Act measure, introduced by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is the latest salvo in a fight between congressional Republicans and the Biden administration over public health requirements related to the pandemic. Despite the …

The Washington Post reports: Travelers will have to continue to wear masks until April 18 when flying commercially and in other transportation settings, including on buses, ferries and subways, officials announced Wednesday. The mandate, which first was put into place by the Biden administration in early 2021 as a public health measure during the coronavirus pandemic, has been extended multiple …

ABC News reports: Masks will no longer be required in the House chamber when President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address Tuesday night, a major reversal in the politically controversial policy that reinforces his message that the pandemic is receding and America is getting back to something closer to normal. On Sunday, the U.S. Capitol’s attending physician …

The New York Daily News reports: New York state’s mandate requiring mask use at schools will end on Wednesday, Gov. Hochul said Sunday. She cited steep declines in COVID numbers in announcing the move. Cities and counties can keep mask mandates in place as they see fit, she added. On Friday, Mayor Adams announced the end of mandatory mask use …

CBS News reports: Americans in parts of the country deemed to have “low” levels of the disease — currently about 29.5% of the population — no longer need to wear masks indoors, according to the CDC’s new framework. Residents of counties at “medium” risk — around 42.2% of the country’s population – should wear masks if they are at heightened …

The Chicago Sun-Times reports: Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday announced he’ll lift his indoor mask mandate for most public settings by Feb. 28, but he’ll still push to keep face coverings on in schools for a few weeks beyond that. The Democratic governor’s latest pandemic directive means Illinoisans — vaccinated or not — can go bare-faced in grocery stores, restaurants, …

NBC News reports: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul lifted a statewide mask mandate Wednesday amid a battle over the rule’s legality and as a surge in Covid-19 infections continues to recede. With infection numbers now trending down, Hochul said the “tremendous progress” has allowed the state to move into a “new phase.” Hospitalizations also decreased 63 percent between Jan. 12 …

The New York Times reports: Gov. Kathy Hochul will drop New York’s stringent indoor mask mandate on Wednesday, ending a requirement that businesses ask customers for proof of full vaccination or require mask-wearing at all times, and marking a turning point in the state’s coronavirus response. The decision will eliminate a rule that prompted legal and interpersonal clashes over mask …

The Associated Press reports: Three days after being photographed without a face mask at the NFC championship game, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti joined other officials Wednesday to urge fans headed for the Super Bowl to strictly adhere to pandemic safety protocols that include staying masked, except while eating or drinking. The Los Angeles area continues to see high levels …

The New York Daily News reports: Gov. Hochul extended New York’s mask mandate through Feb. 10 on Friday as the state Appellate Court is set to determine the legality of the emergency COVID order. The extension comes as the governor’s mask edict was set to expire next Tuesday — just days after the state appealed the decision of a lower …