Masks At Airports: Are They Still Mandatory?

As of April 2023, masks were still mandatory on planes and in airports across the US, two years after the start of the pandemic. However, in March 2023, Hawaii became the last US state to end its statewide mask mandate. In April 2023, the federal mandate was extended by two weeks until May 3, 2023, and it is unclear whether it will be extended again. Meanwhile, in California, several counties in the Bay Area reinstated mask mandates in healthcare settings from November 1, 2024, until March 2025.

The federal mask mandate

The mandate has been extended multiple times by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the latest extension was different, with the TSA and CDC pushing out the masking requirements by just one month, a much shorter extension than previous ones. Both agencies also indicated that they were working on a framework to end the mandate based on pandemic metrics.

Despite the pressure to end the mandate, the White House has been quiet about its plans. In April 2024, the nation's top pandemic adviser, Ashish Jha, stated that an extension was "absolutely on the table," and a decision would be made based on the CDC's framework. However, with COVID-19 cases rising again and the impact of new variants, it is unclear if the federal mask mandate will be extended or allowed to end.

While the national conversation on masking has shifted, and many Americans now expect to go maskless nearly everywhere, the mandate has not been rescinded as of January 2025. The mandate's impact extends beyond domestic travel, as confusion reigns for flights to and from the US as long as the policy remains in place.

Mask mandates in California

As of January 2025, mask mandates have returned to several counties in California's San Francisco Bay Area. The orders, which were handed down by individual counties, apply mainly to healthcare workers, although some counties have extended the requirement to visitors and patients.

The counties with mask mandates for employees include San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Napa, and San Mateo. Santa Clara County and San Mateo County also require visitors and patients in healthcare facilities to wear masks.

The mandates, which came into effect on November 1, 2024, are set to last until March 31, 2025. This is the second year in a row that the Bay Area has seen mask mandates during the fall-through-spring period.

Health officials in the counties that have issued the mandates say that face coverings are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory viruses. They cite data showing that these viruses typically circulate and peak in the Bay Area during the late fall and winter months.

Some people have criticised the mandates, arguing that there is little evidence that masks are effective at preventing the spread of respiratory viruses. They claim that the decisions to implement the mandates are politically motivated and based on groupthink rather than scientific evidence.

Mask mandates in Texas

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has vowed that the state will never return to mask mandates. In a tweet on 3 January 2025, Abbott said, "There will be NO mask mandate in Texas. Period." This comes despite a rise in respiratory illnesses and hospitals in other states requiring masks to curb the spread of what experts call a "quad-demic" of respiratory illnesses.

In Texas, no state government has reimplemented COVID-era mask mandates. Abbott's stance is supported by the fact that, on 29 July 2021, he signed Executive Order GA-38, which states that no governmental entity, including a county, city, school district, and public health authority, can require any person to wear a face covering. The order also includes a provision that any local governmental entity or official that imposes a face-covering requirement is subject to a fine of up to $1,000.

The Texas Supreme Court also ruled in favour of upholding Gov. Abbott's order prohibiting mask mandates on 15 August 2021. This means that, while individuals in Texas may choose to wear masks, no one can be forced to do so by any governmental entity. Texans' right not to wear a mask has been confirmed by both Gov. Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Mask mandates in other US states

As of January 2025, several US states have reintroduced mask mandates in response to rising cases of flu, COVID-19, RSV, and norovirus. Here is a breakdown of the mask mandates in different states:

California

In California, several counties in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara, have mandated that healthcare workers wear masks through March 31, 2025. The orders were issued by individual counties and mainly apply to healthcare workers, although Santa Clara County has extended the requirement to visitors and patients.

Wisconsin

A hospital in Wisconsin was the first in the state to make masks mandatory in its premises in response to rising respiratory virus cases.

Illinois

Illinois health systems have also reinstated mask mandates in certain areas. Rush University Medical Center, Endeavor Health, the University of Chicago Medicine, and the OSF HealthCare network have implemented various levels of mask requirements for staff, patients, and visitors.

New Jersey

RWJBarnabas Health, New Jersey's largest hospital system, reinstated a mask mandate in mid-December 2024. Masks are required for staff, patients, and visitors, and symptomatic individuals are urged to avoid hospital visits.

Indiana

Several hospitals in Indiana have made masks mandatory amid the rising cases of respiratory viruses. Union Health has asked people to wear face masks and restricted visiting hours due to the increase in flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases.

New York

New York City has also reintroduced mask mandates in healthcare facilities to mitigate the spread of respiratory viruses.

The future of mask mandates

In the United States, the federal mask mandate on planes and in airports was a significant point of discussion in early 2024. The mandate, which had been in place for two years since the start of the pandemic, faced pressure from the travel industry and Congress to be lifted. The White House remained quiet about its plans, but the days of the federal mandate for air travel appeared to be numbered. As of January 2025, specific sources mentioning the end of the airport mask mandate could not be found.

In California, several counties in the Bay Area, including Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara, brought back mask mandates in November 2024, set to last through March or April 2025. These mandates primarily apply to healthcare and long-term care facilities, with some counties also requiring visitors and patients to wear masks. This decision was made to limit the spread of respiratory viruses during the fall and winter seasons, despite criticism from those who believe masks are ineffective or unnecessary.

Outside of the Bay Area, other counties in the United States have not implemented similar mandates in healthcare facilities. However, if COVID-19 cases rise again, as indicated by data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), other areas may reintroduce mask mandates, as seen in New York City during the previous winter.

The effectiveness and necessity of mask mandates remain a subject of debate. While some experts and public health officials emphasize the benefits of masking in crowded indoor places and during travel, others argue that masks, including high-quality ones, are ineffective in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses. This discrepancy in opinions has led to varying approaches to mask mandates worldwide, with some regions choosing to lift mandates while others reinstate them.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the future of mask mandates remains uncertain. Decisions will likely be influenced by factors such as pandemic metrics, scientific evidence, and public health recommendations. While some regions may choose to extend or reinstate mandates during specific periods or in response to new variants, others may opt for more permanent relaxations of masking requirements, reflecting a shift in the national conversation around masking.

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