The Department of Justice is filing an appeal seeking to overturn a judge’s order that voided the federal mask mandate on planes and trains and in travel hubs, officials said Wednesday. A federal judge in Florida on Monday had voided the national mask mandate covering planes and other public transportation, ruling that the Covid-19 mitigation measure exceeded the authority of federal health officials. Mizelle, who judged the rule as exceeding the authority of US health officials in the coronavirus pandemic, overturned the mask mandate on Monday. But several north-east cities have seen a rise in hospitalizations in recent weeks, leading Philadelphia to bring back its mask mandate. The appeal drew criticism from the US Travel Association, which, along with other industry groups, had been pressuring the Biden administration for months to end the mask mandate for travel.

Source: The Guardian April 21, 2022 06:38 UTC