Whether it wheels up or rolling on the ground, you must now mask up in mass transit.
It’s protecting our safety not just myself but it protects everybody that’s around so I don’t have a problem with that. I mean I look at it this way, if people have a problem with it, stay at home or don’t travel,” said Theodore Holman, a taxi driver.
The CDC is now requiring face masks on nearly all forms of public transportation.
The order applies to ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, ride-shares, and airplanes.
Coverings must also be worn inside hubs like the airports.
“For us, it really hasn’t and it won’t change what we’ve already been doing, since summer of last year. with the ordinance 1520 with the city council,” said Lewis Garvin, Marketing Manager of the Pensacola International Airport.
The CDC order will make not wearing a mask a violation of federal law making it easier to reinforce. But Pensacola International Airport leaders say that travelers here have already been complying with the city’s mask mandate.
We’ve been doing this since last year, and we haven’t had anybody who’s been belligerent or non-compliant so we’ve been really excited and blessed with that,” said Garvin.
The order is another attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a year after its arrival in the United States.
“I wouldn’t say it is too late because it will still save some lives but it could have saved many more lives if such results had been brought to the public one year back,” said Dr. Ashok Srinivasan, Professor at the University of West Florida.
“A good mask can substantially reduce infection risk,” said Srinivasan.
The order has a few exceptions such as children under the age of 2, and those with disabilities. Individuals that work to enforce just hopes that travelers comply.
But, federal mandate versus state, city ordinances.
“It’s mandatory, just follow it. It’s not that hard. it’s just like wearing a seatbelt you got to wear it, it’s the law,” said Theodore Holman.
