Mask Mandate Dropped For County Buses, But Officials Urge Caution

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Patrons on Ride On buses are no longer required to wear masks, the county announced Tuesday.

“To provide consistency within the region, masks will not be required on County buses at this time,” said County Department of Transportation Director Chris Conklin. “However, I encourage the continued use of masks to protect yourself and others as there are members of our community who remain vulnerable to serious illness from COVID-19. Our operators will continue to provide masks to riders who need them.”

County Executive Marc Elrich said the recent decision made by a federal judge stating that the CDC's mask mandate was unconstitutional was a bad one, and said it undermines public health officials.

The Transportation Security Administration stopped enforcing the mask mandate on all public transportation after the decision was handed down.

"As we join the region and comply with this legal decision, we are going to continue to monitor our transmission rates and legal options regarding masking," said Elrich. "We highly encourage all residents to wear masks on our buses, as well as in crowded indoor areas. And, as we currently see our COVID rates increase, it is imperative that everyone stays up to date on their vaccinations.”