CDC restates public transportation mask recommendation despite court ruling

Despite a court ruling last month that struck down the national mask mandate on public transit, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is standing by its recommendations.

According to ABC News, the CDC restated their recommendations on Tuesday, urging Americans to wear masks on planes, trains, and buses.

All Americans ages 2 and up should wear well-fitting masks while on these public transportation services, as well as inside airports and train stations, citing the current spread of COVID-19 and future projections.

The latest requirement for mask wearing in these places set by the government was set to expire on May 3, but was struck down by a federal judge in Florida on April 18.

In the court ruling regarding the public transportation mask mandate, US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle wrote "But the Mandate exceeded the CDC's statutory authority, improperly invoked the good cause exception to notice and comment rulemaking, and failed to adequately explain its decisions."

Following the ruling, the CDC requested the Justice Department appeal the decision, which it did so, though CDC officials declined to elaborate on the status of the appeal.

According to CDC data, the number of new cases  daily have been on the rise since April, though the number of cases is nowhere near as many as the astronomical levels seen over the winter with the omicron variant.

Though cases have recently been on the rise, deaths associated with the virus continue to fall.