After a federal judge in Florida voided a national mask mandate Monday that governed airlines and public transit, some carriers were quick to drop their requirements for planes. Many Chicago-area public transit agencies initially kept their requirements, but that began to change following a rule change by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Pritzker’s office announced Tuesday afternoon it would lift state requirements that masks be worn on public transit and in transit hubs and airports. Local municipalities would be allowed to create their own transportation mask rules.
After the state announcement, CTA, Metra and the Chicago Department of Aviation also lifted their mask requirements. All three agencies had initially continued to require masks despite the federal ruling, citing the state rules.
Though Chicago and Illinois previously lifted mask requirements for businesses and schools, the federal mandate had still applied to airports, trains, buses and ride-shares. The ruling overturning the mandate left a patchwork of rules for travelers and transit riders to follow, as companies and agencies varied their responses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it continues to recommend people wear masks while indoors on public transportation. Here’s how the rules changed in Chicago:
Airports and planes
The Chicago Department of Aviation, which runs Midway and O’Hare international airports, initially said it would continue to “follow, observe and enforce” the state executive order requiring masks on transportation, but quickly changed course later Tuesday after the governor lifted the order.
Chicago-based United Airlines said masks were no longer required on domestic flights or certain international flights, depending on the arrival country’s mask requirements. The removal of the requirement was effective immediately, the airline said Monday evening.
“While this means that our employees are no longer required to wear a mask — and no longer have to enforce a mask requirement for most of the flying public — they will be able to wear masks if they choose to do so, as the CDC continues to strongly recommend wearing a mask on public transit,” the airline said in a statement.
American and Southwest airlines also said they were no longer requiring masks. Southwest spokesman Dan Landson said mask rules in airports would follow local requirements.
Trains and buses
CTA, Metra and Pace all dropped their mask requirements shortly after the governor’s announcement Tuesday afternoon.
Metra said masks were “welcome but not required.”
“They remain an important preventive measure against COVID-19,” the agency said in a statement. “We are asking everyone to please be courteous and kind toward your fellow riders and understanding of their needs and choices. This has been a difficult period for everyone — let’s all do what we can to help each other on the way back.”
The South Shore Line commuter rail service that runs between downtown Chicago and northern Indiana said it would no longer require masks, citing the TSA move to halt enforcement. Train crews would continue to provide free masks to passengers who choose to wear them, the agency said.
Ride-share
Masks are now optional on Uber and Lyft, the companies said.
Neither riders nor drivers are required to wear masks when using Uber, the company said.
“Remember: many people still feel safer wearing a mask because of personal or family health situations, so please be respectful of their preference,” the company said in a statement. “And if you ever feel uncomfortable, you can always cancel the trip.”
In addition to masks being optional in Lyfts, riders and drivers are no longer required to keep the front seat empty or the windows open, the company said. It cautioned riders and drivers to avoid using the service if they have COVID-19 or symptoms.
“We know that everyone has different comfort levels, and anyone who wants to continue wearing a mask is encouraged to do so,” the company said in a statement. “As always, drivers or riders can decline to accept or cancel any ride they don’t wish to take.”