Judge says masks can’t be required on planes and trains

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

A federal judge ruled Monday that masks can't be required on airplanes and public transportation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn't have the authority to mandate masks, and they didn't follow the proper rules to do so, according to a ruling by a US District Judge.

The mandate for masks has been in place since January. It was extended last week by the CDC. On April 18th, it was set to expire, the same day the judge made the ruling.

Most states and cities have dropped their mandates, although some have re-introduced mask-wearing rules indoors in the face of rising COVID-19 cases. The CDC said in February that masks were no longer needed.

The Omicron variant of the Covid-19 has become the main form of the virus in circulation as highly contagious versions of the other variant are on the rise across the country.

The CDC and the Biden administration have not commented on the decision.

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