CDC's Order Requires Masks for Nearly All Public Transportation

Starting Monday, February 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's order will go into effect, requiring masks to be worn with nearly all public transportation.

The new CDC mask order will take effect at 10:59 p.m. CST on Feb. 1 requiring masks to be worn by "all passengers on public conveyances". The mask order will be in effect for "traveling into or within the United States, including airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-shares" according to npr.org.

The mask order will also be enforced in airports, bus terminals, and train or subway stations.

Dr. Martin Cetron, director of the CDC's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine states in the order that "requiring masks on our transportation systems will protect Americans and provide confidence that we can once again travel safely even during this pandemic".

There will be a few exceptions to the mask order. Children under the age of two won't be required to wear masks, nor will anyone with any sort of disability who cannot safely do so.

When it comes to wearing masks while flying, the order will be enforced strictly.

From npr.org -

"The agency said that airlines and other operators must 'at the earliest opportunity' remove any passenger who refuses to comply with the mask order. Anyone violating the order could face potential criminal penalties, but the CDC suggested that civil penalties would be more likely."

To read more about the CDC mask order, head over to npr.c.