On Friday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order requiring people to wear face masks while travelling on any form of public transportation in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, CNN reported.
This sweeping order will go into effect at 11:59 PM on Monday, February 1.
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Not only must people don masks, but those masks must be worn properly, covering both the wearer’s mouth and nose.
According to the CDC , this order must be followed by anyone traveling on any form of public transportation, including busses, planes, trains, taxis, and ride-shares. Operators and conductors of those conveyances must also don face masks.
Masks must be worn while boarding, riding, and disembarking, as well as while people are entering and waiting inside public transportation hubs.
According to the order, the mask must be at least two layers or more of breathable fabric, and must be secured to the wearer’s head with ties, ear loops, or elastic bands.
Among those face coverings deemed unacceptable under this mandate include face shields, ski masks, bandanas, knitted coverings, oversized face masks, or any that have been punctured.
“Requiring masks on our transportation systems will protect Americans and provide confidence that we can once again travel safely during this pandemic,” the 11-page order reads. “Therefore, requiring masks will help us control this pandemic and aid in re-opening America’s economy.”
Of course, there are exceptions to this order.
While passengers must wear masks while aboard public transit, they are permitted to go without one for brief periods of time, such as to eat, drink, or take medication.
Children under the age of 2 aren’t required to wear face masks, as well as anyone with a disability who cannot safely wear a mask because of that disability.
As of writing, the coronavirus death toll in America has surpassed 437,000.
While the Trump administration previously blocked a push from the CDC to mandate masks on public transit, that certainly hasn’t been the case with the new administration.
According to CNN , President Biden is actively seeking ways to curb the spread of the virus, and has already started by asking all Americans to wear masks in public as part of his “100 Days Masking Challenge.” He also recently issued a mask mandate requiring all individuals to wear masks on federal property.
