The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will extend the mask mandate for planes, trains, buses and public transportation hubs like airports.

WASHINGTON (AP) — AP Source: CDC to extend travel mask mandate for two weeks to monitor uptick in COVID-19 cases.

— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) April 13, 2022

The mask requirement was set to expire on Monday, April 18th. The extension will last an additional 15 days, through May 3rd.

CNBC reports:

The CDC said it is monitoring the spread of omicron, including the BA.2 subvariant.

“Since early April, there have been increases in the 7-day moving average of cases in the U.S. In order to assess the potential impact the rise of cases has on severe disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and health care system capacity, the CDC Order will remain in place at this time,” the CDC said in a statement.

CNN provides context:

The US is now averaging 38,345 new Covid-19 cases per day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Cases are trending up in more than half of states — including all but one state in the Northeast, Delaware. But the daily rate is still one of the lowest since mid-July.

According to the latest estimates from the CDC, BA.2 caused 86% of new Covid-19 cases nationwide last week.

The CDC extends the mask mandate for planes/airports another 15 days, A couple hours before that announcement, Delta CEO Ed Bastian told @CNBC, “Masks need to go” $DAL https://t.co/CaxczdKjUB

— Phil LeBeau (@Lebeaucarnews) April 13, 2022

CNBC adds:

Airlines have repeatedly asked the administration to drop that requirement as well as other Covid restrictions such as predeparture testing for all international arrivals, including citizens.

The extensions to the mask mandate have become shorter, however, as the administration weighs the risks of Covid spread. A decline in cases from a peak this winter helped fuel a surge in travel demand that is so strong, it is helping airlines cover much of their soaring fuel bills.