The US Justice Department said on Tuesday it would appeal against a federal district court ruling, which ended mandatory masks for travel, if the nation's health agency believed they were still necessary.
The judge ruled that the 14-month-old directive was unlawful, ending a key measure to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
The ruling meant an end to obligatory masks on airlines and transport systems across the country.
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1. The UAE is the travel industry's most recovered country. Photo: DTCM -
2. The Dominican Republic is the second-most recovered country, while Punta Cana is the world's most recovered city. Photo: Unsplash / Joshua Wilkinson -
3. Cancun, Mexico is the third-most recovered travel destination. EPA / Alonso Cupul -
4. Bangladesh has bounced back from Covid-19. People take pictures among Kans grass at Sarighat area in South Keraniganj. EPA -
5. Pakistan is the fifth-most recovered destination based on bookings made up until March 2022, according to Travelport. -
6. A tourist surfs along a beach in Mirissa, Sri Lanka. AFP -
7. Hot air balloons glide over the historical Cappadocia region, located in Nevsehir province of Turkey. Getty Images -
8. The Maldives has an abundance of beaches boasting golden sands and crystal-clear waters, which has aided its quick tourism recovery. -
9. Tourists take a picture with a camel on a beach facing the Gulf of Aqaba, in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Reuters -
10. A view of the Old Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv. A strong vaccine drive has helped Israel's travel recovery. EPA -
11. Visitors at Las Delicias waterfall in San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia. The country reopened to travellers early in the pandemic. EPA -
12. Tangier's street-side stalls are popular with tourists visiting Morocco. Getty Images -
13. A tourist visits the Abu Lawha Nabataean tomb at the desert archaeological site of Hegra, north-west of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo -
14. People walk along the Dom Luis I Bridge in Porto, Portugal. Reuters -
15. A skier at the Revelstoke Mountain Resort in Canada, the 15th most recovered destination. Photo: Garrett Grove
“The Department of Justice and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention disagree with the district court’s decision and will appeal, subject to CDC’s conclusion that the order remains necessary for public health," said the agency's spokesman, Anthony Coley.
"The department continues to believe that the order requiring masking in the transportation corridor is a valid exercise of the authority Congress has given CDC to protect the public health.
"That is an important authority the department will continue to work to preserve."
Earlier on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden said that "it's up to them" when asked if people should keep wearing masks on airplanes. That was at odds with his administration's official guidance.
The CDC still advises people to wear masks on public transport, as White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said before Mr Biden's comment.
"We're continuing to encourage people to wear masks," Ms Psaki said.
Monday's court decision means the CDC's public transport mask order is no longer in effect, a US official said.
Coronavirus infections are rising in the US, and more than 400 people are dying daily from the airborne disease, based on the latest seven-day average.
There have been a series of judgments against Biden administration directives to fight Covid-19 — which has killed nearly 1 million people in the US — including vaccination or Covid testing mandates for employers.
"Public health decisions shouldn't be made by the courts. They should be made by public health experts," Ms Psaki said.
The new White House Covid-19 Response Co-ordinator, Dr Ashish Jha, tweeted on Tuesday that the judge's ruling "was deeply disappointing".
Dr Jha agreed that health decisions should lie with the agency.
"CDC scientists had asked for 15 days to make a more data-driven, durable decision," he said. "We should have given it to them."
News agencies contributed to this report
