BILLINGS - Billings public transportation officials announced Tuesday passengers using city bus facilities and at Billings Logan International Airport will be required to wear a face mask.
Passengers who do not follow the new mandatory requirement at either the MET facilities or the Airport Terminal will be offered the choice to properly wear a mask or to leave the facilities, city officials said in a press release. Masks, which completely cover both the nose and mouth, must be used while awaiting, boarding, disembarking, or traveling in either the Airport Terminal or MET Transfer Center, or in the aircraft or bus.
"While this issue is not necessarily popular with everyone, the majority of the traveling public in Billings is already complying with wearing masks and we do not foresee a lot of issues with this at the MET or the Billings Logan International Airport," said Kevin Ploehn, Director of Aviation and Transit for the City of Billings. "If you are planning to ride a bus or board a commercial aircraft, the mask will be needed at our facilities and for those that do not have a mask, one will be provided. We want to make this as painless as possible for the traveling public, but we also want to ensure the safety of everyone in our facilities. Hopefully the vaccinations available for Billings and the surrounding region will pick up so we can get one step closer to the end of having to worry about masks."
The press release notes the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued an order on Jan. 29 mandating the wearing of masks by individuals utilizing public transportation. The requirement was issued to implement and enforce the Jan. 21 Presidential Executive Order on promoting measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by travelers in the U.S. The CDC Order pertains to both employees and members of the public, the press release states.