The US health authority has sparked travel industry fury by demanding an appeal against a legal ruling relaxing face mask mandates on aircraft and other modes of transport.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reacted after a Florida judge on Monday ruled against the mask mandate – resulting in airlines telling passengers that wearing face coverings on flights was now optional.
The CDC confirmed that it had asked the US Department of Justice to proceed with an appeal.
Justifying its call, the health body said: “It is CDC’s continuing assessment that at this time an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health.
“CDC will continue to monitor public health conditions to determine whether such an order remains necessary.
“CDC believes this is a lawful order, well within CDC’s legal authority to protect public health.”
But in reaction, US Travel Association executive vice president of public affairs and policy Tori Emerson Barnes said: “We have long stated that mask usage on public transportation should be an individual choice, and we were pleased to hear president Biden echo that sentiment this week – especially as the CDC’s own guidance advises that the overwhelming majority of Americans do not need to wear masks in indoor public settings.
“Masks were critically important during the height of the pandemic, but with low hospitalisation rates and multiple effective health tools now widely available, from boosters to therapies to high-quality air ventilation aboard aircraft, required masking on public transportation is simply out of step with the current public health landscape.”
US district judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled the mandate was unlawful because it exceeded the authority of the CDC but the White House insisted that masks should still be worn.
However, Biden was quoted on Wednesday as saying travellers should decide for themselves whether or not to wear face masks.