Should you still wear masks on public transit in Charlotte? We asked a health expert
After a Florida judge struck down the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s mask requirement for public transportation on Monday, some U.S. airlines add immediately made masks optional for passengers and employees.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport also no longer requires masks. And as of Tuesday morning, masks were also no longer mandated on Charlotte Area Transit System vehicles or at the Charlotte Transportation Center.
These decisions come amid a rise in the number of reported COVID-19 cases in Mecklenburg County.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, there was an average of 82 COVID-19 cases reported per day in Mecklenburg County from April 1-9, up from an average of 55 per day in March.
NCDHHS data also show that only a third of Mecklenburg County residents have received the COVID-19 vaccine and at least one booster shot.
Here are the airlines that no longer require masks, and the recommendation from a Charlotte health care professional on whether travelers should still wear them.
Should you still wear a mask while traveling?
Though masks are now no longer required at many transportation hubs around the country, the CDC still recommends travelers wear them while waiting to board flights or trains.
Mecklenburg County Health Director Raynard Washington explained those who are “at higher risk for severe disease or complications due to COVID-19 infection, should consider wearing a high-quality mask when they are in crowded indoor settings, including airports, airplanes, buses or trains.”
“Examples of people at higher risk include people who are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, older adults, and especially people with underlying health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, COPD or any immune compromising condition,” Washington said in an emailed statement to the Charlotte Observer.
Research shows that wearing a mask while traveling can reduce the spread of COVID-19. A study by the National Library of Medicine found there was no transmission of COVID-19 on flights between Dubai and Hong Kong when all passengers were masked, despite positive cases among passengers on those trips.
Airlines and rail services that no longer require masks
Currently, the following airlines no longer require passengers or crew members to wear masks:
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Frontier Airlines
JetBlue
Southwest Airlines
Spirit Airlines
United Airlines
Many airlines note that their mask optional policies only apply to domestic flights. Those who are traveling to international destinations may still be required to wear face coverings.
Masks are also no longer required for Amtrak passengers, according to its website.
Observer reporter Hannah Smoot contributed to this story.
