MANSFIELD — The Richland County Transit has enacted a new mandate for riders to wear mouth and nose coverings while riding on the bus.
Christine Terry, general manager of RCT, said riders must use some kind of protection to cover their mouth and nose while riding.
“We know it’s hard to come by a mask, so we are letting riders use a scarf or anything they can use to cover,” she said.
Transportation systems across the state began mandating face coverings as bus drivers across the country began testing positive for COVID-19, Terry said.
“Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA in Columbus) began their mandate (April 15), Cleveland’s started theirs last week,” Terry said. “We just wanted to follow suit.”
The RCT mandate began (April 14) following 24-hour posting around the stations and on each bus.
Terry said the number of riders has remained steady during the Stay-At-Home orders at around 40 riders per day.
“Our drivers are working and cleaning up their busses everyday,” Terry said. “They are essential employees and we need to take the extra step to protect them.”
