Write a commentFrom next Friday 10 July it will be mandatory to wear face coverings on public transport.
From this date passengers travelling on most bus, train and ferry services in Northern Ireland will be required to wear a face covering. Face coverings will also be required in public transport stations.
There will be exemptions for those who are not able to wear a face covering for health and medical reasons and for children under the age of 13. Outdoor areas of a ferry where social distancing can be maintained will be exempt from the requirements, along with school transport.
The Executive has agreed that the cross-departmental group that has been established to consider face coverings will engage with the tour coach and taxi industry to explore extending the requirement to these transport modes.
Making the announcement, Minister Nichola Mallon said: “As we move through the Executive’s recovery plan, more and more of the economy and society is opening up. We must remember however that Covid-19 is still with us. We need to remain vigilant and continue to play our part in controlling the virus to protect ourselves and others.
“As restrictions on our movement are eased, the safety of passengers and staff remains my priority. The evidence suggests that you can reduce the risk of spreading the virus by wearing a face covering. That is why, with the support of my Executive colleagues and the unions, I am announcing that face coverings will be mandatory on public transport, from Friday July 10th.
“The requirement will apply to passengers and also staff in public areas who are not protected by a screen. However, there will be exemptions for those who are not able to wear a face covering for specific health and medical reasons.”
A face covering is a covering of any type which covers a person’s nose and mouth; it does not have to be a surgical face mask.
While face coverings can offer protection to others, they are not a substitute for other protective measures and it is important that people continue to follow social distancing and wash or sanitise hands regularly.
Translink Welcomes Move
Translink has welcomed the move and Translink Group Chief Executive, Chris Conway explained, “We understand this will be a big change for everyone and passengers will need time to adapt to the new culture. Over the coming week our staff will be helping people to understand the new guidance and in the initial period, we plan to give away a quantity of disposable masks to get people into the habit of wearing their own face covering.
“Working together we have come a long way through this crisis; this new measure is a further collective way we can help protect each other and travel safely together – it’s easy and it’s the right thing to do."
Conway concluded "“We will continue to carry out regular deep cleaning of vehicles and facilities, with mobile cleaning teams out during the day. We have screens in stations and on buses and have provided hand sanitiser in all main bus and train stations."
Personal Responsibility
Minister Mallon added: “We are asking you to take personal responsibility and do the right thing to protect the health and well-being of others. The fact of the matter is you can spread the virus to other more vulnerable people without even knowing you have it. By wearing a face covering you are showing your support and consideration for other passengers and staff.
“It is important to be aware that wearing face coverings will not be suitable for all members of the public and we need to be sensitive to this and know that reasons for not wearing a face covering may not always be visible.
“Advice will be available on nidirect and social media channels. Translink staff will begin preparing commuters for the requirement to wear face coverings.
“It is also important that you do not get a false sense of security about the level of protection a face covering offers. They are not a substitute for social distancing or good hand hygiene. While I know many will find it challenging in the coming days and weeks to keep up compliance with the rules, I want to applaud the public for their leadership. The public have done the heavy lifting and kept us all safe. You have been the leaders in Northern Ireland fighting covid-19 and I am asking you to keep it up and we will beat this together.
The minister concluded with “By acting together and thinking of each other we can reduce the risk of transmission.”
Further Clarity needed
MLA Cathal Boylan has welcomed the announcement today but says that further clarity is needed.
“I welcome the announcement today that face coverings will become mandatory on public transport from Friday July 10 in order to reduce transmission risks for both passengers and drivers.
“This brings the north in line with the south on this issue and exemptions are in place for those who cannot cover their face for medical reasons.
"Further clarity is needed on how this will be policed, as front-line transport workers should not be left to deal with individuals who fail or refuse to abide by the new regulations.
“As we cautiously enter the recovery stage of Covid-19 we need to make sure people use public transport under the highest standards of safety. This includes communicating clearly to the public the benefits and importance of wearing facemasks.
"Face coverings are not a substitute for following public health guidelines but should be used alongside them.
“I understand that the Minister for Infrastructure is preparing safe travel guidance for public transport users and this should be issued as soon as possible."
