Federal mask mandate for transportation extended through March 18

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The Biden administration on Thursday extended a requirement that people wear masks on airplanes, trains, buses and other modes of transportation through March 18.

The extension of the federal mask mandate, which had been set to expire next month, is one of a series of actions the White House announced aimed at allaying concerns about the emergence of the new omicron variant. The U.S. reported its first case of the variant Wednesday.

While numerous studies have shown that mask-wearing can reduce the spread of the coronavirus, the federal mandate has been a center of controversy since it went into effect earlier this year. Airlines have seen an alarming rise in the number of onboard incidents fueled by some travelers’ refusal to wear masks when flying.