SEPTA won’t require wearing masks inside vehicles or stations

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) announced that it won’t be requiring masks to users aboard vehicles or inside stations or concourses, “but still recommends it”.

The announcement was made on SEPTA official Twitter account the same day Philly reimposed its indoor mask mandate due to the increase of COVID-19 cases.

Effective immediately, in accordance with CDC and TSA recommendations, the wearing of masks aboard SEPTA vehicles and in SEPTA stations & concourses is recommended but no longer required of customers or employees.

— SEPTA (@SEPTA) April 19, 2022

The ruling came only hours after a federal judge in Florida overturned the national mask requirement for flights and other forms of public transportation. The mask order “is not in effect at this time,” according to the White House, citing the court verdict.

The judgment appeared to give airlines more freedom in deciding whether or not to require masks, with numerous airlines saying that they would no longer enforce them.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia reinstated an indoor mask requirement in response to an increase in new coronavirus cases. After metrics no longer satisfied the ‘All clear’ criteria of Philadelphia’s COVID-19 response, the city stated a week ago that it will reimpose the mandate.

🧵 Due to increasing COVID-19 cases, @PhiladelphiaGov will move to Level 2: Mask Precautions beginning today. In order to provide a one-week education period for businesses, masks will be required in all indoor public spaces as of Monday, April 18, 2022. (1/4)

— Philadelphia Public Health (@PHLPublicHealth) April 11, 2022

As a result, masks usage are mandatory in all indoor public locations, including schools and daycare facilities, companies, restaurants, and government buildings. City authorities ask residents to report any businesses that do not comply with the ordinance to Philly311.

But a group of businesses and residents is trying to nullify it through a state lawsuit.

The suit, filed in Commonwealth Court on Saturday, states the city lacks the authority to impose the mandate.

The group filing the lawsuit says the mandate violates the state constitution and flouts guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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