Face coverings to be required on South Lake Tahoe buses and at transit stations

All passengers on Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) buses will be required to wear a face covering while on transit buses and in transit facilities starting Monday, May 18.

This new requirement is to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain and in line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The required face coverings must cover the passenger’s nose and mouth, as recommended by current CDC guidance to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in areas of significant community-based transmission. Face coverings are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators, which are critical supplies for healthcare workers and first responders during this pandemic. Transit operators have been makinge periodic announcements to remind passengers about this policy and Required Face Covering notices will be posted at TTD transit facilities.

“TTD is continuing to monitor Nevada and California state guidance to implement the most rigorous standards to ensure the safety of transit operators and the community,” said Carl Hasty, district manager of the Tahoe Transportation District. “Face coverings, fare-free service, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices are among a number of heightened safety measures TTD has implemented to make our transit system as safe as possible while ensuring mobility and access for essential workers and services during this public health crisis.”

Face coverings are an additional safety precaution and not a replacement for the CDC’s social distancing guidelines. TTD asks the community to continue maintaining 6-feet social distancing between transit operators and passengers, and please observe the buffer zone of empty seats around transit operators. Transit operators and TTD staff assigned to serve the public will continue to wear face coverings, as is required by the Nevada State Occupational Safety and Health Administration (NV OSHA).

TTD continues to monitor and implement the latest recommendations from local, state, and federal health officials, including CDC guidelines for transit operators. These include: social distancing, back door entry/exiting, enhanced cleaning and disinfection, and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which is available on all buses and in transit centers. TTD also introduced a fare-free program to eliminate fare exchanges, which helps minimize risks by enabling passengers and operators to follow social distancing guidelines. Other policies TTD has implemented to combat COVID-19 include: daily and nightly sanitizing of bus contact surfaces; use of gloves and face coverings; contingency planning for transit services and operations; daily communications with local health and emergency services officials; virtual meetings; and remote work, for employees who can do so.

The CDC offers the following guidance on how to wear a face covering.

Face coverings should:

 Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
 Be secured with ties or ear loops
 Include multiple layers of fabric
 Allow for breathing without restriction
 Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to the shape

The CDC further advises that face coverings should not be placed on young children under the age of two, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance. For more information on these guidelines, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.

For information on CDC COVID-19 recommendations to protect yourself and others, see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html.

For more information on TTD’s transit services, please visit www.TahoeTransportation.org/transit. Follow TTD on Twitter @TahoeTrans, and connect on Facebook here.