Some commentators are enraged that passengers are no longer forced to wear masks on public transit, calling for airlines to impose their own mandate and even launch segregating flights.
As reported by Frontline News, a federal judge in Florida Monday declared the Biden administration's federal mask mandate for travel unlawful, effectively ending the mandate.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had just decided to extend the mask mandate, which was set to expire on April 18th, until May 3rd.
But U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled Monday that the mandate must end immediately.
"Because our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends, the court declares unlawful and vacates the mask mandate," the federal judge wrote.
Comment: Read more about the recent ruling here:
TSA won't enforce mask mandate for travel, following Florida ruling
"It is indisputable that the public has a strong interest in combating the spread of Covid-19," Mizelle wrote. "In pursuit of that end, the CDC issued the mask mandate. But the mandate exceeded the CDC statutory authority, improperly invoked the good cause exception to notice and comment rulemaking, and failed to adequately explain its decisions. Because our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in the pursuit of desirable ends, the court declares unlawful and vacates the mask mandate."
Now, some are claiming that people will die, despite scientific evidence showing that masks have little to no health impact.
Comment: Indeed, masks were never effective at preventing viral transmission:
Dr. Jeremy Faust, an ER physician, claimed on Twitter that children - the lowest risk age group - will die as a result of some people not wearing masks.
"Imagine celebrating the deaths of a small number of kids so that you don't have to wear a mask on a plane," he said. "What happened to decency?"
As previously reported by Frontline News, even the CDC does not have data on child deaths from COVID-19.
"Thanks @united," Faust wrote in another tweet. "The idea of not waiting until "vaccine for all" (including kids under 5) is pretty much you just saying it's cool if a few kids die so that you don't have to enforce this for another month or two."
Faust, a COVID-19 vaccine advocate, opposes masks now being a choice when infants six months and up are still not vaccinated.
"The odd thing about my being disappointed in @united dropping its mask mandate is how many people who claim to love kids are totally cool with this meaning that a small number of babies will die of Covid, when we're weeks away from a vaccinate for all ages over 6 months."
Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding Is a self-described epidemiologist and health economist. Feigl-Ding's tweets are generally dedicated to COVID-19, race, and criticizing Donald Trump.
This week, he pledged to boycott Alaska Air until they reinstate the mask mandate.
"Smoking and nonsmoking parts of the plane?" he tweeted. "Peeing and nonpeeing parts of the swimming pool? That's like the coronavirus on an airplane," he wrote, adding: "I will not be flying @AlaskaAir until they reinstate public safety measures against #COVID19. #BoycottAlaskaAir."
Others are now calling for segregated flights.
"I am literally begging companies to make all mask flights and cars, if they won't mandate a full masking policy," tweeted New York-based journalist Rotem Rusak. "Like a smoking room or car or something. You don't want to wear a mask great, you can be on the non masked flights."
Rusak, who lists her "pronouns" in her bio, also thinks that those who celebrate not being forced to wear masks are evil.
"People celebrating the mask mandate being struck are evil. It's something to deeply mourn," she said.
"Has anyone suggested to airlines that they offer some flights only for people who wish to retain mask use? Is this feasible?" asked journalist and podcaster Mary O'Hara.
"If not, why not? What about on busy routes with multiple flights per day? I would actively look for and book those flights."
Simples.