Hours After Lifting Mask Policies, MCTS, MPS Reverse Decision

MILWAUKEE, WI — Milwaukee County's transit agency and the largest school district in the state both made decisions to reinstate mask requirements to stop the spread of COVID-19, both organizations announced Tuesday.

The Milwaukee County Transit System will require passengers to wear face coverings when on buses for an indefinite time, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday. The requirement comes out of "an abundance of caution" as COVID-19 cases increased over the past three weeks, the agency added.

Milwaukee Public Schools will require face coverings for students and staff in all district buildings starting Wednesday, the school system said in a statement. The district could make masks optional again, but only if city and school district data show the spread of disease isn't significant.

The transit agency announced mask requirements hours after it announced the requirement would be lifted. Milwaukee Public Schools set its mask mandate to end on Monday, but re-adopted it Tuesday after cases increased in Milwaukee County.

See Also: Largest WI School District Lifts Mask Rules As County Cases Slip

The schools district will provide masks to students and staff, and the transit agency will also provide masks to passengers.

President Joe Biden's administration announced Tuesday it would make an appeal after a Florida federal judge struck down the CDC's order for mandatory masking in public transportation services on Monday, The New York Times reported.

Numerous airlines, the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, Amtrak, Uber and Lyft still have their mask requirements lifted.

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