THE Biden administration will no longer enforce a US mask mandate on public transportation, after a federal judge in Florida on Monday (Apr 18) ruled that the 14-month-old directive was unlawful, overturning a key White House effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Soon after the announcement, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines relaxed the restrictions effective immediately on all domestic flights. The ruling by US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, an appointee of President Donald Trump, came in a lawsuit filed last year in Tampa, Florida, by a group called the Health Freedom Defence Fund.

The judge said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had exceeded its authority with the mandate, had not sought public comment and did not adequately explain its decisions.

A US administration official said while the agencies were assessing potential next steps, the court's decision meant CDC's public transportation masking order was no longer in effect. The administration could still opt to appeal the order or seek an emergency delay in the order's enforcement.

"Therefore, TSA (Transportation Security Administration) will not enforce its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs at this time," the official said in a statement.

"CDC recommends that people continue to wear masks in indoor public transportation settings."

GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign UpVIEW ALL

The ruling comes as Covid-19 infections rise again in the United States, with 36,251 new infections reported on average each day, and 460 daily deaths, based on a seven-day average - the highest number of reported total Covid-19 deaths in the world. The White House called the ruling "disappointing."

Last week, US health officials extended by 15 days the mandate requiring travellers to wear masks on aeroplanes, trains, and in taxis, ride-share vehicles or transit hubs, saying they needed time to assess the impact of a recent rise in Covid-19 cases. AFP