Travel mask mandate to be extended into January for planes, trains, buses as COVID cases rise
highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19 continues to sweep the nation, with mask mandates returning to some destinations and mask sales climbing again.Â
“The emerging evidence about the Delta variant demonstrates it is more formidable than the original virus,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement Tuesday. “Wearing a well-fitting mask that covers your nose and mouth is a way to prevent germs from spreading between yourself and other people.”
was extended in April through Sept. 13.Â
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USA TODAY has reached out to federal officials for comment.Â
The current rule includes fines for people who don’t comply and exempts travelers under the age of 2 and those with certain disabilities. Â
said in July, before the delta variant surge, that Southwest and the trade group were not recommending another extension of the federal transportation mask mandate.
Kelly, answering reporter questions during Southwest’s quarterly earnings conference call, said airlines support following CDC guidance on masks, which says vaccinated individuals don’t need one but unvaccinated individuals should wear one.
Unless that advice changes, he said, “we wouldn’t advocate from Southwest’s perspective, or the A4A for that matter, extending the mandate.”
Kelly is the first U.S. airline executive to publicly express what is in effect support for letting the mandate expire, though United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said he expected it to be lifted in September.
“What they decide, we’ll enforce,” American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said earlier in July on the airline’s quarterly earnings conference call. “It’s not for us to opine.”
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Contributing: Dawn Gilbertson