Dr. Anthony Fauche warned on Thursday that a court decision violating a federal mandate requiring passengers to wear masks for airlines and public transportation is contrary to public health principles and stipulates of a “bad precedent.”
“We are concerned about this: the interference of the courts in matters that are clearly public health decisions,” the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told CNN +.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had earlier extended the federal travel mask mandate until May 3, which Fauche called “a very good public health decision.” But U.S. District Judge Catherine Kimball Mizel revoked that warrant on Monday, saying it exceeded the CDC’s powers.
“Because our system does not allow agencies to act illegally, even to achieve the desired objectives, the court declared it illegal and revoked the disguised warrant,” he wrote.
“It’s really embarrassing to go to court and interfere with it,” Fauci said.
The CDC still recommends covering face masks and called on the Justice Department to appeal the federal judge’s decision on Wednesday.
“It is an ongoing CDC assessment that at this time the mandate requiring the protection of masks in a closed transportation corridor remains for public health,” the agency said in a statement.
Individual cities may issue their own instructions for wearing masks in public places.
The Los Angeles County Mandate was released Friday, which goes beyond state guidelines, which only recommend public transit masks. The country also needs masks in transportation hubs such as airports, as well as in taxis and passenger compartments.
However, Philadelphia, which was the first major U.S. city to reinstate the Inner Masks command, reversed its decision a few days later. The city said the number of hospitalizations has dropped and COVID-19 cases have risen.
“The city will strongly recommend the use of masks in enclosed public spaces, contrary to the mandate for masks,” the Philadelphia Department of Health said in a statement.
Boston also encouraged its residents to wear a mask, even without a warrant. The city has seen an increase in cases and hospitalizations and has also seen an increase in COVID-19 in wastewater samples.
Source: Huffpost
