By Staff Reports
(Hawaii)– A Presidential Executive Order and New Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Regulations now require ALL passengers (riders) to wear a Mask while riding public transportation. Effective Monday, February 15, 2021, the regulation states specific types of mask that are acceptable and those that are no longer acceptable to wear while riding public transit.
The City and County of Honolulu has had a strict “No Mask No Ride” policy in effect for TheBus and TheHandi-Van since last year. However, this new mandate requires riders to wear their masks while waiting at transit center facilities. In addition, the following types of masks are ACCEPTABLE to ride TheBus:
- Double/Triple Layer Cloth Mask
- Disposable Mask
- Two-layer Gaiter
While the following are UNACCPTABLE and will not grant riders access onboard TheBus or TheHandi-Van:
- Shirt pulled over face of wearer
- Bandana/Scarf
- Mask with vents, valves, holes
- Face Shield Only (allowed with valid medical exemption card)
Children under two (2) years of age are exempt from wearing masks. Medical exemptions require a valid NO MASK/FACE SHIELD-ONLY card. To apply for a medical exemption card, please contact:
Customer Service
848-5555, press 3
Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Except City Holidays
TheBus and TheHandi-Van have taken steps to reduce the risk of infection while riding or operating transit vehicles. Plastic curtains have been installed on all buses to provide a barrier between drivers and passengers as they board. Seats closest to the operator have been made unavailable to provide greater space and extra buses have been added on busy routes to provide more area for physical separation. All buses and vans are regularly disinfected by wiping down all touch surfaces manually with a strong anti-virus disinfectant and receive nightly disinfecting fogging using an electrostatic spraying system. All OTS employees are temperature checked daily.
The City continues to remind the public that only essential trips should be taken on public transit, and that wearing a face mask or covering while entering and riding on a bus or a TheHandi-Van is required. Transit riders should continue practicing good hygiene and physical distancing. People who are sick or in poor health conditions should stay at home and not ride public transit.
To view the Presidential Order, please visit:
To view the CDC Requirements, please visit:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/face-masks-public-transportation.html
https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/masks/mask-travel-guidance.html