Mask mandate for air travel, public transportation extended through Sept. 13

Travelers will be required to wear face masks inside airports and on planes, buses and trains through Sept. 13.

The mask mandate, in place since the beginning of February, was set to expire May 11.

Transportation Security Administration officials said Friday the new extended timeline is consistent with covid-19 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has said those who are fully vaccinated against the virus may travel safely throughout the nation but must continue to wear a mask, socially distance and wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.

“Right now, about half of all adults have at least one vaccination shot, and masks remain an important tool in defeating this pandemic,” said Darby LaJoye, a senior official performing the duties of the TSA administrator. “We will continue to work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to evaluate the need for these directives and recognize the significant level of compliance thus far.”

“I think people are used to doing it now and it’s not going to create much of a problem down the road,” Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, said of the requirement to wear masks inside the terminal at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity. “If it keeps us safe, God bless them.”

Exemptions to the face mask requirement for travelers under 2 years old and those with certain disabilities will continue.

Failure to comply with the mask requirement can result in civil penalties ranging from $250 for the first offense up to $1,500 for repeat offenders.

Acrylic barriers will remain in place at TSA checkpoints at most airports.