The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an Order on January 29, 2021, requiring the public to wear face masks while on conveyances and in transportation hubs. The Order emphasizes that the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily via respiratory droplets and that wearing masks prevent infected individuals from spreading the disease.
The CDC’s Order focuses on transit because it brings people in close contact with one another. Furthermore, the CDC believes that any state or territory without sufficient mask wearing requirements for transportation systems within its jurisdiction has not taken adequate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The CDC is exercising its statutory and regulatory authority to require wearing masks on transit.
Further, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a Security Directive (SD) January 31, 2021 that is effective February 1, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. The SD was issued to enforce the requirements of the CDC Order mandating masks as well as implement the Executive Order issued on January 21, 2021.
To keep up to date on the latest information from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), sign up for email notifications or update your existing subscriptions.