Social and political debates continue regarding the obligation to wear masks in the USA.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which made the regulation in this direction in the country, objected to the decision that canceled the obligation to wear a mask, taken by Federal Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Florida at the beginning of the week.
The CDC stated that it believes the use of masks on public transport is necessary and that the Department of Justice should step in.
Spokesperson of the US Department of Justice Antony Coley made a statement on the official Twitter account of the ministry shortly after this statement and stated that they would appeal the decision of the federal judge and made the first application.
Despite recent changes at the federal level, Los Angeles, one of the most populated areas of America, reported that the use of masks will continue to be mandatory for passengers on public transportation or in closed transportation centers such as airports. The decision took effect on Thursday night.
The California Department of Public Health also announced its own updated guidance last Wednesday that strongly recommends that the public wear masks while using public transportation, although it is no longer required.
The area’s mask requirement includes commuter trains, subways, buses, taxis, Ubers and Lyfts, bus terminals, subway stations, ports and other indoor port terminals, said Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health for Los Angeles. It covers all transportation centers, everyone aged 2 and over, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccine status.
The decision also covers Los Angeles International Airport and Hollywood Burbank Airport. Ferrer said he expects the Long Beach Department of Public Health, which operates independently of the region, to make a similar decision. Pasadena, which has its own public health agency, announced that it will comply with the region’s mask-wearing rules.
Local mask wearing instruction will begin for airline passengers after they disembark.
New cases across the Los Angeles area last week more than doubled from last month, reaching an average of 1262 per day.
The positivity rate in the region has also increased to about 2 percent in recent days; two weeks ago, the positivity rate was about 1 percent.
Los Angeles Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer said the area will reconsider its mask decision within 30 days once the transmission rate drops to moderate and the CDC decides that masks are no longer required on public transit.