<span style="color: #222222;">In the United States, the Biden administration will no longer enforce a mask mandate on public transportation, after a federal judge in Florida ruled that the 14-month-old directive was unlawful, overturning a key White House effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Soon after the announcement, all major carriers including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines as well as national train line Amtrak relaxed the restrictions effective immediately.<br />''<br />''Last week, U.S. health officials had extended the mandate to May 3 requiring travelers to wear masks on airplanes, trains, and in taxis, ride-share vehicles or transit hubs, saying they needed time to assess the impact of a recent rise in COVID-19 cases caused by the airborne coronavirus.<br />''<br />''Industry groups and Republican lawmakers balked and wanted the administration to end the 14-month-old mask mandate permanently.<br />''<br />''The ruling by US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, an appointee of President Donald Trump, came in a lawsuit filed last year in Florida.</span><br />