Masks Are Now Required on Public Transport
From now on, the CDC officially requires travelers to wear masks on trains, planes, buses, taxis, route taxis and other forms of “public transport.” The order you can read here gives a clear definition of what counts as a “mask” – bandanas and face masks don’t count.
What you need to know if you are traveling
You will need to wear a mask when boarding, while driving, and when exiting an airplane, train, boat or whatever. The rules also apply to “transport hubs” such as airports and bus stations, as well as to employees and travelers. Expect to hear announcements and see signs for new rules while traveling.
If you refuse to wear a mask, the driver or crew must deny service to you. If you remove your mask in the middle of a trip and refuse to wear it again, you may be kicked out. You will also be breaking federal law.
The new rule does not apply to people driving their own vehicles for personal use, but it does apply to drivers and passengers from companies such as Uber and Lyft.
Masks are not required for children under two years of age or for people with disabilities that prevent them from wearing the mask safely. The driver or crew may ask you for documents proving that you have a disability. (This is why this is not a HIPAA violation .)
Can I take it off someday?
Yes, you can take it off “briefly” to eat, drink or take medication. You cannot avoid this rule by pretending to drink water from a bottle during the flight.
You may be asked to momentarily remove your mask upon presentation of photo ID. Masks can also be removed for a variety of reasons, such as wearing oxygen masks that fall from the ceiling when the plane loses pressure in the cabin. You can also remove the mask if necessary to communicate with a lip-reading person.
What is considered a mask?
The CDC defines an acceptable mask to include N95, surgical masks, and most cloth masks. The mask also has to go over your damn nose to count.
The following masks are not allowed:
- Bandanas (too loose)
- Masks tied or woven so loosely that light can be seen through them.
- Mesh masks or masks with holes in them.
- Masks with valves (because they have big holes)
- Face shields (but you can wear them in addition to the mask)
- Balaclavas or scarves (also not masks)
Transparent masks can be used to enable lip reading. Legguards (such as buffs) are allowed if you fold them so that the part covering the mouth and nose has at least two layers.
Basically, if you’ve been smartly wearing masks all this time, little has changed. Airlines already have similar regulations, although USA Today notes that flight crews say it’s easier to enforce federal law than company policy.