Riders at the Cache Valley Transit District Center Tuesday, Apr. 19, 2022.
LOGAN — If you are using Cache Valley Transit District buses and don’t want to wear a mask anymore, you don’t have to after a federal judge in Florida voided the national mask mandate covering public transportation.
After Monday’s ruling, the Cache Valley Transit District said in a statement that masks are now optional at CVTD facilities and on buses.
The statement read, “The Center for Disease Control has now posted on their website the following: ‘As a result of a court order, effective immediately and as of April 18, 2022, CDC’s January 29, 2021 Order requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect.’”
Tuesday morning at the transportation center, many riders joined drivers in going without masks. Several others who were either not aware of the change or were still choosing to still wear a mask were seen transferring from one bus to another.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa comes as she argued the mandate as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials.
The mask mandate was recently extended by President Joe Biden’s administration until May 3.
Despite the federal mask mandate being overturned for travelers, Utah is an active participant in four other lawsuits regarding masks involving large employers, head start workers, health care workers, and federal contractor employees.
The White House announced that it will be reviewing the decision but confirmed that the Transportation Security Administration will stop enforcing a mask mandate.
will@cvradio.com