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Face coverings, including non-medical masks, are required beginning Monday, August 24th, 2020 for all passengers riding bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express.
TransLink made the announcement earlier today after many days of speculation and consultation with provincial health officials in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The transit agency added that the Metro Vancouver Transit Police will work on educating customers instead of enforcing the mandatory policy. Bus drivers, SkyTrain attendants and other staff will ask customers to wear a face covering when on TransLink property or vehicles.
With more people returning to work and getting back to their regular rhythms, keeping two metre distance between others is not always popular on transit. Wearing a mask or face covering helps to reduce transmission of the coronavirus.
However, TransLink outlined examples of where a mask may not be required, including people with underlying medical conditions (who can optionally obtain a TransLink-branded exemption card from the Compass Customer Service offices at Stadium-Chinatown or Waterfront stations), people who require assistance in putting on or removing a mask, children under five years of age, employees working behind glass barriers, and staff or first responders attending to an emergency.
TransLink offers masks for sale through their online store in a number of styles.
Source: TransLink
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