DeSantis Calls Transportation Mask Extension “COVID Theater” as CDC Investigates New Cases

April 13, 2022 Updated 3:08 P.M. ET

TALLAHASSEE (FCV) – Governor Ron DeSantis called the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) decision to extend the mask mandate for passengers on airplanes and public transportation “COVID theater” Wednesday. 

“Biden’s extension of the transportation mask mandate simply prolongs the misery that passengers and flight attendants are being forced to endure,” DeSantis said in a statement.

The Biden Administration extended the mandate another 15 days until May 3rd to look at the BA.2 coronavirus subvariant.

“In order to assess the potential impact the rise of cases has on severe disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and health care system capacity, the CDC order will remain in place at this time,” the CDC said in a statement.

The mask mandate was originally set to expire April 18th, following a one-month extension announced in March. Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic in 2020, the CDC has used two weeks of restrictions as a way to “slow the spread” of the virus. 

Here is the Florida Department of Health’s most recent COVID-19 report that is released every two weeks. The number of coronavirus cases have inched up to 11,337 new cases April 1st from 8,037 positive cases March 11th. 

More than a dozen states, including Florida, sued the CDC and other federal agencies in hopes of ending the mask mandate on public transportation. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, a Republican, argues that the mandate “interferes” with states that have banned requiring face masks. 

“This is the Biden equivalent of continuing the beatings until morale improves. I’m glad Florida and other states are fighting this mandate in court,” DeSantis continued in a statement on Twitter.