What started last spring as local and state decisions to require masks to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on school buses has turned into a federal mandate. However, following President Joe Biden’s Executive Order No. 13998, “Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel” last month, student passengers of both publicly and privately operated school buses now fall under the mask requirement.
The CDC confirmed that masks are required for any onboard passengers and those operating the school buses. Therefore, not wearing a mask is in direct violation of federal law and according to the CDC could result in criminal penalties.
However, there are some exceptions. The order states that the mask mandate does not apply while; communicating with someone who is hearing impaired; / using oxygen masks on an aircraft; / is otherwise “unconscious” for any reason other than sleeping; / and when required to verify one’s identity. There is a no eating or drinking on the school bus rule this is in effect due to a choking hazard, therefore the mask stays on.
It also does not apply to anyone under the age of 2, a person with a disability who cannot wear a mask or cannot safely wear a mask because of the disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a person for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety or job duty, as determined by the relevant workplace safety guidelines or federal regulations.
The intent of this is just to get people to wear a mask, not to pressure civil or criminal penalties, it’s to get people to wear a mask, to prevent our transportation workers from getting sick, and to prevent other folks in public transportation from getting sick.