Ottawa to maintain mask requirement for travellers after U.S. drops rule: transport minister
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra is giving no indication his authorities plans to drop its masking requirement for air and practice passengers in Canada within the close to future.
“We continuously seek the advice of our consultants and each time the recommendation that we obtain modifications as a result of the circumstances change, we will change our regulation,” he mentioned Tuesday. “However for now, it’s what it’s.”
His feedback got here after a federal decide in Florida struck down a Biden administration requirement that passengers put on face coverings on airplanes and mass transit.
In her determination, U.S. District Choose Kathryn Kimball Mizelle mentioned the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention didn’t justify the masks mandate and didn’t comply with correct regulatory procedures.
On Monday night time, the Transportation Safety Administration mentioned it could now not implement the masking requirement. Airways and airports throughout the U.S. swiftly started to repeal their masking necessities for passengers.
Taking a query from reporters in Calgary, Alghabra would not touch upon the U.S. determination however mentioned the Canadian authorities bases its selections on science and information.
“Masks are confirmed to supply extra layers of safety and we’ll proceed to comply with the recommendation of our public well being consultants,” he mentioned.
“The rules proceed that require carriers to require passengers to put on masks.”
The federal authorities requires passengers to be totally vaccinated as a way to board home or worldwide flights departing from most airports in Canada. It additionally requires that passengers put on masks inside airports and rail terminals and whereas on board planes and trains.
The CDC not too long ago prolonged the masks mandate — which was set to run out Monday — till Could 3 to permit extra time to review the BA.2 Omicron subvariant of the coronavirus now chargeable for the overwhelming majority of circumstances within the U.S.
“That is clearly a disappointing determination,” White Home Press Secretary Jen Psaki mentioned Monday. “The CDC is recommending sporting a masks on public transit.”
