Are Face Masks Still Required On Orange County Buses?
ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A federal judge nixed the federal travel mask mandate Monday, allowing transit agencies and airports to drop mandates for planes, trains and, in most cases, subways and buses.
In Orange County, face masks are no longer required on buses, effective immediately, according to the Orange County Transportation Authority. Riders are still encouraged to wear a mask in accordance with a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"OCTA thanks bus passengers for following the guidance and remaining flexible. OCTA will continue to monitor guidance and directives from the CDC and the Federal Transit Administration and adjust as necessary," the agency wrote in a release.
Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, buses in the county have been emblazoned with "No Mask – No Ride" signs. For the first time in months, those signs will disappear.
Alternatively in neighboring Los Angeles County, Metro was continuing to ask passengers on Los Angeles County buses and rail lines to don face coverings pending further guidance from federal authorities.
But Metrolink officially dropped its mask mandate on commuter trains and stations.
Mask-wearing requirements on transit operations were shaken up Monday after U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Florida issued a ruling saying the CDC had exceeded its authority by mandating face-coverings on mass transportation.
As a result, the CDC said its order requiring masks on public transportation "is no longer in effect" and the agency will not enforce it. However, the CDC said it "continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time."
The CDC first issued an order mandating masks on public conveyances in January 2021, saying "traveling on public transportation increases a person's risk of getting and spreading COVID-19."Overnight, the scene at Golden State airports and others across the country changed dramatically.
Effective Tuesday, the Transportation Security Administration was no longer requiring masks on planes or in the nation's airports. One by one, most of the nation's major airlines dropped mask requirements, making the face coverings optional for employees and passengers.
The TSA said in its statement that the CDC continues to recommend face coverings to protect against the coronavirus. Amtrak issued a stronger statement, saying that although they are no longer required of passengers and employees, "masks are welcome and remain an important preventive measure against COVID-19."
The Florida decision also affects ride-hailing companies. Uber no longer requires masks as of Tuesday and Lyft soon followed suit, saying masks are now optional for riders and drivers.
At John Wayne Airport in Orange County, the mask mandate was dropped in alignment with the judge's ruling.
"Guests and employees have the option to wear a mask during travel or while working. Travelers are advised to check with their airline and destination airport for local guidelines," airport officials said in a statement.
READ MORE: John Wayne Airport Mask Rules: Latest Policies For Travelers
This article originally appeared on the Orange County Patch
