The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extended its
mask mandate on public transit and airplanes through next month.
The mandate was extended
15 more days through May 3. The order originally was set to expire on April 18.
The BA.2 variant of COVID-19 can be blamed for this.
It doesn't make a difference to
some riders. A majority who spoke with News 12 didn't
even know the mandate was set to expire Monday. Still, others think
it should have expired months ago.
"You know, I don't think
we're out of this thing yet,” says Jorge Blanco.
Blanco had COVID-19 two weeks ago
and doesn't want to have it again, so keeping the mask on was fine
with him. Theresa Campbell is a tech at Overlook Hospital and is already
conditioned to it.
"People still feel a little
nervous when they hear somebody cough in public, so why not have it
still in restaurants and theaters and everything like that? Because you
know a common cold right now could be considered COVID,” says Campbell.
But some disagree with extending
the mandate, even if the CDC extended it 15 days because of the spike in BA.2.
subvariant cases.
“I think if we're not required to
wear masks in restaurants then why in public transit?” says Kaela Kennedy, of
Summit.
The CDC says it needs more time
to assess what comes with the variant, such as how severe the disease and
hospitalizations are associated with it. Currently, the BA.2 variant
makes up for 85% of the country's COVID-19 cases.
Those against extending the
mandate also say it'll cause more fights against transit workers,
something Jesus Candia, of Summit, has seen. He and most others don't mind
masking up for a little longer.
"Now you got to get off at
the next station, and I'm just like, 'Put your mask on,
get on with it, I have things to do,'” says Candia.
Cases aren't where they were back
in December and January, but they have been going up in recent weeks.