The Transportation Security Administration is extending a federal mask mandate on airplanes and all forms of public transportation, including buses, trains, and cabs. The mandate will remain in effect until January 18, 2022.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the mandate is aimed at slowing the spread of the Delta variant, which is about twice as contagious as the original coronavirus strain.
"The emerging evidence about the Delta variant demonstrates it is more formidable than the original virus," the CDC said in a statement. "Wearing a well-fitting mask that covers your nose and mouth is a way to prevent germs from spreading between yourself and other people."
The current rule exempts children under the age of 2 from having to wear a mask. Anybody who refuses to comply can be asked to leave and fined.
Airlines have seen a slump in bookings due to the recent surge in new COVID-19 cases. The travel industry said that it supports the extension of the mandate and hopes it will help passengers feel more comfortable when they travel.
"Extending the federal mask mandate for travel makes sense for the current health environment," Tori Emerson Barnes, the executive vice president of public affairs and policy for the U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement. "The universal wearing of masks in airports and on airplanes, trains and other forms of public transportation is both an effective safeguard against spreading the virus and boosts public confidence in traveling – both of which are paramount for a sustained economic recovery."