PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A federal mask mandate aboard public transportation took effect this week across the U.S. While it plans to enforce the order, SEPTA said it will not throw people off its buses, trolleys, subways and trains for not complying.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said transit operators should deny entry to people who are not wearing masks. Or, drivers can ask them to get off at the next safest stop if they remove their masks while riding and refuse to put them back on.
During a CDC conference call with transit authorities, SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said federal officials put the emphasis on getting the public to comply with the mask mandate — not ejecting them.
“Our understanding is that SEPTA does not have to do that to be in compliance with the law,” Busch said. “We don’t have to forcibly remove people from vehicles or block them from entry to stay in compliance.”
He said SEPTA is spreading employees across the system to hand out masks and stopping maskless people to give them one and explain the new facts of life.
“Very clear and very forceful about the fact that this is required, this is what’s expected of you when you ride SEPTA,” he added.
KYW Newsradio reached out to the CDC on whether SEPTA’s strategy is in compliance with the federal mandate, but no one has responded yet.