Take the train, bus or plane? Make sure you are masked before midnight.

If you haven’t worn a face covering on public transit, on airliners, or in federal buildings, the federal government is officially telling you to mask yourself or else.

An executive decree requiring the wearing of masks on transport vehicles and at stations or airports and in federal buildings takes effect at 11:59 p.m. on February 1 to slow the spread of coronavirus.

President Joe Biden’s executive order follows what has been a factor in regular life in New Jersey and New York since the pandemic escalated last spring. An order from January 29 by the Centers for Disease Control explained what it means for passengers – if it is moving, flying or floating and the public is straddling it, face coverings must be worn.

The same goes for going to the post office or any other federal office building. It also includes airports, train and bus stations, ferry terminals and seaports. Hide yourself or go home.

Jersey drivers and commuters might say “so what”, since Gov. Phil Murphy has mandatory masks must be worn on NJ Transit and other public transport since April 11.

Individual ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft have made mask-wearing a condition of transportation, requiring passengers using their app to agree to wear a mask before being picked up. The CDC order also covers taxis.

“The new safety directive for surface transit reflects what we are doing – requiring a face covering,” said Christopher Trucillo, police chief of NJ Transit.

Transportation Security Administration officers will be among those enforcing the requirement at transportation facilities and on vehicles across the county, said Lisa Farbstein, a spokesperson. Other federal authorities will also apply the requirement.

Passengers who fail to comply with the requirement to cover their faces risk being kicked out of whatever they ride at the earliest opportunity, the CDC said. They could also face federal civil charges and fines.

While people in other parts of the country might have difficulty embarking on wearing a mask, passengers from Jersey seem to get used to it.

Total scofflaws who even refuse to wear a free mask given to them by the authorities on the PATH rail system and NYC Transit were issued a summons with a fine of $ 50. NJ Transit police also have low-quoted passengers who refuse to comply, even after being offered a free mask.

NJ Transit police carried out 138 mask checks at stations and vehicles and responded to 11 calls about mask failure, Trucillo said on Friday. “They have all been resolved and we did not issue any summons during the week of January 17-22,” he said.

The New York and New Jersey Port Authority has distributed more than one million free masks to passengers at airports, bus stations and PATH rail systems since July, spokesperson Scott Ladd said.

The two-state airports and the main ones NJ Transit stations have personal protective equipment Vending machine.

What is not considered a CDC approved face covering? Face shields or goggles, they can be worn in addition to a mask, but not in place of a face cover. Scarves, ski masks, balaclavas or bandanas or pulling a shirt or sweater over your nose doesn’t count either.

A mask that your mother or daughter provided for you is also not acceptable, no matter how pretty. The CDC will not accept masks made from loose or knitted fabrics. If the light can pass through it, that’s no good. There are medical exceptions and the The 11-page rule spelled them out on the CDC website. Medical justification is also in order.

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Larry Higgs can be reached at [email protected].