LA County reinstates mask mandate for LAX, buses, trains, taxi and ride-share services
LOS ANGELES - Those looking to fly in and out of LAX, as well as getting a ride in an Uber or Lyft in Los Angeles County, will once again need to mask up.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a countywide health order that will once again require masks to be worn on all public transit. This order, expected to kick on Friday, will also apply for buses, trains, taxis, ride-share services.
The order also applies to bus terminals and airports across LA County, including LAX.
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LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer explained the agency's decision is based off CDC's stance that masks being worn in public transit will help slow the spread of COVID-19.
"They are experts," Ferrer said in a teleconference. "They made a determination that at this point having that requirement in place is necessary for the public's health, and that resonates with us."
With several airlines recently announcing that masks will be optional on board, there is a possible scenario where passengers who were masked up the entire time they were inside LAX take off their masks once they go inside an airplane one of the airlines that ditched their mask requirement policy.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: These major U.S. airlines are dropping mask requirements
Thursday afternoon's development comes days after a federal judge struck down the Biden Administration's mask mandate on planes and other forms of public transportation. The Florida judge's decision allows local agencies and governments to determine whether to follow the federal ruling or keep their own version of a mask mandate in place.
When the judge struck down the airport/plane mask mandate, some of the travelers were seen cheering at the news of face-coverings no longer being required onboard.
The U.S. Department of Justice is working to appeal the judge's order that reversed the federal travel mask mandate.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: LAX travelers react to major US airlines dropping mask mandate
The expected return of the transportation mask mandate would be a complete 180-degree turn from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's announcement earlier in the week when the agency decided to scrap the mandate for passengers and drivers.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Metro lifts mask requirement on trains, buses
FOX 11 is making calls to LA County Public Health for comment.
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