The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was extending the order, which was due to expire on April 18, to May 3, to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subtype, which is now responsible for the vast majority of cases. to US “In order to assess the potential impact of the increase in cases of serious illness, including hospitalization and death, and the capacity of the healthcare system, the CDC mandate will remain in force at this time,” the agency said in a statement. When Transportation Safety Administration, which enforces the rule for airplanes, buses, trains and transit junctions, extended the requirement last month, it said the CDC hoped to develop a more flexible coverage strategy that would replace the requirement. in national level. The mandate of the mask is the most visible remnant of government restrictions on pandemic control and probably the most controversial. A wave of abusive and sometimes violent incidents on airplanes has been attributed mainly to controversy over the use of masks. Critics have hailed the fact that states have withdrawn rules requiring masks in restaurants, shops and other indoor areas, and yet COVID-19 cases have dropped sharply since the Omicron variant peaked in mid-January. There has been a slight increase in cases in recent weeks, due to the BA.2 strain, with daily confirmed cases nationwide rising from about 25,000 a day to more than 30,000. These numbers are underestimated, as many people now test positive at home that does not refer to public health services. Serious illnesses and deaths tend to delay infections by several weeks. The CDC is awaiting indications as to whether an increase in cases is linked to an increase in adverse outcomes before announcing a less restrictive travel mask policy.
