Transit mask mandates being dropped after US court ruling

WASHINGTON

State, local and private mandates requiring passengers to wear protective face coverings are gradually falling after a federal judge in Florida struck down a national rule enforcing masks on public transportation.

US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled Monday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which had just extended the mandate for planes and other forms of public transportation for 15 days, overstepped its authority when it issued the original order and did not follow proper procedures.

It is unclear if the Justice Department will appeal the ruling but the CDC continues to recommend passengers wear masks when traveling.

Within hours of the ruling, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced it would no longer be enforcing the mandate, setting off a cavalcade of announcements from private companies and public transit agencies and airports making masking a personal choice.

Many of the US' most prominent airlines announced that masks would now be optional on flights, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue.

Many airports followed suit, including Los Angeles International Airport, Portland International Airport, Miami, and Washington, D.C's Reagan National, Dulles International and Baltimore/Washington International airports.

San Francisco International Airport said it would be keeping its mask mandate until "we hear otherwise from TSA."

Ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft also said they would no longer be requiring masks for passengers and drivers.

Amtrak, the US' largest passenger rail company said while passengers and employees are no longer required to mask, face coverings are "welcome and remain an important preventive measure against COVID-19."

"Anyone needing or choosing to wear one is encouraged to do so," it added.

Masks are also being made optional on the US capital's Metro transit system

And New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority said it would keep its mandate, as did Portland, Oregon's Trimet transit authority and Seattle's King County Metro.