A.G. Gancarski
On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis denounced the ongoing “farce” of a public transportation mask mandate as yet another “COVID theater” production
The Governor, addressing reporters in Okaloosa County, offered an extended denunciation of the ongoing mask mandate, lampooning perceived absurdities in the ongoing federal rule extended through mid-April by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
“This is theater. This should not be extended. It should have never been done in the first place, but clearly now, this is a farce, and so they need to repeal the transportation mask mandate,” DeSantis said. “Let people fly and let them breathe normally.”
The mask mandate was scheduled to expire March 18, but the Transportation Security Administration said Thursday that it will extend the requirement through April 18.
TSA said the extra month will give the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention time to develop new, more targeted policies that will consider the number of cases of COVID-19 nationally and in local communities, and the risk of new variants.
The TSA enforces the rule, which extends to planes, buses, trains and transit hubs.
As of Thursday, more than 98% of the U.S. population is living in areas with low or medium COVID-19 case levels, meaning that the CDC no longer recommends face masks in public indoor settings.
DeSantis has been staunchly against mask mandates as the COVID-19 pandemic has continued.
“We’ve got to stop with the theater,” DeSantis added. “There are more people that would want to fly but they know they don’t want to have to do this. … If the airline is going to hassle the family about masking a two-year-old or a three-year-old, it’s not an easy thing to do, trust me, I know.”
The U.S. Senate passed a resolution this week rescinding the latest extension of the rule, which has been extended twice already, but there is no indication the House is ready to vote on it.
Airlines for America, a trade group that represents the largest U.S. airlines, said in a statement that it urged the Joe Biden administration to end both rules.
Last September, the Transportation Security Administration doubled the fines for people who refused to wear a mask on public transportation to up to $1,000 for first-time offenders and up to $3,000 for repeat violations.
The requirement became a lightning rod for confrontation between some passengers and airline crews. Since the start of 2021, airlines have reported more than 6,000 incidents of unruly passengers, most of them involving disputes over mask wearing. That history could make it unlikely for airlines to require masks once the federal rule lapses.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
11 comments
rick
March 17, 2022 at 11:06 am
Ron DeSantis is giving us a daily matinee of Covid-19 theater, trying to convince Floridians and GOP voters nationally, that the pandemic wasn’t real.
Truth is under Ron DeSantis, Florida so far has 72,246 cumulative Covid-19 deaths. That’s the third highest in the nation after California and Texas.
But Florida’s per capita infection and death rates are significantly higher than California and Texas. In fact, Florida’s infection and death rates are way higher than the national average.
Ron is an authoritarian charlatan and Covid-19 fraudster whose only real interest is to culturally divide and conquer Florida and beat a demagogic path to the White House.
https://data.palmbeachpost.com/coronavirus-curve/florida/12/united-states/00/
Antonio
March 17, 2022 at 2:18 pm
How is giving people the freedom to choose “authoritarian”?
Concern Citizen
March 17, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Only if you chose what he wants is not freedom.
Antonio
March 18, 2022 at 1:38 pm
You are making things up in your mind. In Florida, you can choose if you want to wear a mask or if you don’t want to wear one. But under TSA, you don’t have a choice. You have to do as they say. That is literal authority.
Impeach Biden
March 17, 2022 at 11:13 am
The only places I have to wear a mask anymore is the Doctor office and when I enter the airport / airplane. Eliminate the mandate and solve many of the passenger disturbance problems..
Tjb
March 17, 2022 at 11:29 am
Covid theater?
Hey Ron, how about the 72,000 plus Floridians that have died from Covid. Were they acting? Your poor leadership and pitiful actions regarding Covid have cause more deaths than necessary . You state that you are pro-life for the unborn, but what about the lives of those outside the womb. Should your administration be call the “theater of death”?
Impeach Biden
March 17, 2022 at 9:01 pm
Take your theater and move to a “Blue” state. You can wear your mask, and hide in the basement. You fear Covid? Fine. Just don’t force your fearful mandates on me. I chose to live my life.
Tjb
March 18, 2022 at 11:14 am
Have I forced a mandate on you? Funny and sad on how you attack the individual (commenter ) and not the policy.
Finally, Impeach Biden, the Red states in general had more death per capita than the blues.
Found out
March 23, 2022 at 11:01 am
“COVID: did you know republicans turn blue too? Lol
PeterH
March 18, 2022 at 5:21 am
Ron DeSantis does get to decide if jet passengers wear a face mask. He’s a circus clown looking for attention.
PeterH
March 18, 2022 at 5:21 am
Doesn’t
Comments are closed.