The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has again recommended that the use of masks on public transportation is mandatory despite the court’s restraint.
The CDC announced on the 3rd that it has issued guidelines for people 2 years of age and older to wear a face mask that fits well in public transportation and indoor facilities such as airplanes, trains, buses, airports and train stations.
The CDC explained that the recommendation was taken in consideration of the domestic and international spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the impact of the appearance of mutations, and future trends.
Masks have been used as a tool to block the spread of virus-infected droplets from exposure to others.
Attention was paid to as a means to prevent infection caused by aerosol-type microscopic droplets floating in the air in a confined, narrow space.
“Masks protect you and those around you,” the CDC said in its advisory.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has made it mandatory for passengers and crew members to wear masks in accordance with CDC recommendations.
The CDC has repeatedly recommended wearing a mask, but then extended the deadline in consideration of the public health situation. The latest deadline was today.
However, on the 18th of last month, a federal court in the conservative state of Florida issued a ruling invalidating the extension of the CDC’s mandatory mask wearing.
The main reason for the decision was that it was unclear that public health would be improved by mandatory wearing of masks, as masks themselves do not have the ability to purify viruses.
According to a court ruling, the TSA immediately halted the mandatory wearing of masks on public transport.
However, the CDC emphasized that it is still necessary to wear a mask, and the U.S. Department of Justice appealed the court ruling based on this assessment.
Public health experts believe that the spread of COVID-19 in the United States has passed its peak and vaccines have been distributed, but public health risks exist because of the vulnerable population.
CDC Director Rochelle Wallensky said: “It’s important to be considerate not only of yourself, but also those who are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill (if infected) and those who are not yet vaccinated. “He said.