The transit commission endorsed an OC Transpo recommendation to urge every person to wear a non-medical cloth mask on buses, trains and in stations starting June 15 with the top boss assuring commissioners that law enforcement will not be aggressively ticketing people for breaking the unprecedented rule.
Transpo will be the first transit agency in Canada to implement a mandatory mask policy in cooperation with the local health unit. The Ottawa Public Health (OPH) endorses the plan of Transpo to require customers to wear masks.
The masks are needed since Transpo does not have enough buses and trains to keep people properly distanced from each other to lessen the spread of COVID-19 especially if the ridership returns to normal levels. Health officials want people to observe at least two meters apart. A few people are riding buses and trains but as the province reopens more of the economy, there will be an increase in the ridership.
The only passengers not required to use a mask are young children, people who have difficulty breathing, and those who cannot put on and remove masks without assistance.
Together with the mask policy, Transpo is also increasing the frequency of cleaning of buses, trains, and stations as well as the installation of barriers and providing hand sanitizers at stations.
For more information about this story, click here to learn.
LEARN MORE
Learn how to stay safe by enrolling in a mask fitting test which is a requirement for many workplaces and school admissions or check out our available masks for sale by visiting our face mask sale page.
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/face-masks-importance-battle-with-covid19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/cloth-face-coverings-information.pdf
https://www.livescience.com/are-face-masks-effective-reducing-coronavirus-spread.html