Safety & Security

Transit mask mandate extended through May 3

April 13, 2022

The 15-day extension will allow CDC to monitor the spread of an Omicron subvariant.

Masks will be required on public transit vehicles and in transportation hubs through May 3, 2022.

Face coverings will be required on public transit vehicles and transportation hubs through May 3, 2022, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said. The current mandate was set to expire on April 18.

This is the fifth extension of the rule since it first went into effect in February 2021.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the United States has seen an increase in the seven-day moving average of COVID-19 cases since April 2022. CDC adds it is paying close attention to a subvariant of the Omicron COVID-19 variant known as BA.2, which makes up more than 85 percent of U.S. cases.

“During the 15-day extension period, CDC will assess the potential impact the recent rise of COVID-19 cases has on severe disease, including hospitalizations, deaths and healthcare system capacity,” a statement announcing the extension read.

TSA says it will continue to coordinate closely with CDC and communicate any changes to this requirement with the public.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine and group editorial director of the Infrastructure and Aviation Group at Endeavor Business Media. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the editorial direction of the group and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.