The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said some 98 per cent of the US population live in locations where Covid-19 levels are low enough that people do not need to wear masks indoors.

The CDC on Feb 25 dramatically eased its Covid-19 guidelines for when Americans should wear masks indoors, saying they could drop them in counties experiencing what it described as low or medium Covid-19 levels.

Last month, the CDC initially said 70pc of counties covering 72pc of Americans could drop masks. The latest update says 98pc of Americans who live in 94pc of US counties can ditch masks.

The Biden administration earlier said at the CDC's recommendation that it had agreed to extend requirements for travellers to wear masks on airplanes, trains and in transit hubs through April 18, Reuters reported.