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Walsh County Senior Citizens Council -
Mask Policy per TSA Security Directive 1/31/2021

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We will notify passengers with prominent and adequate notice of the mask requirement to facilitate awareness and compliance. Signs are posted on all our vehicles. Federal law requires wearing a mask while on the bus and failure to comply may result in denial of boarding or removal. Refusing to wear a mask is a violation of federal law; passengers may be subject to penalties under law. We will require that individuals wear a mask. Any persons on public transportation or in public areas of transportation facilities. Operators must ensure that direct employees and contractor employees wear a mask at all times when in buses or around transportation facilities.

Requirements to wear a mask does not apply under the following circumstances:

  1. When necessary to temporarily remove the mask for identity verification purposes.

  2. While eating, drinking, or taking oral medications for brief periods: Prolonged         periods of mask removal are not permitted, the mask must be worn between bites a   and sips.

  3. While communication with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing when the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication; or 4.    If unconscious (other than sleeping), incapacitated, unable to be awakened, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

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Exemptions from mask mandate: 

  1. Children under age 2

  2. Persons with disabilities who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of their disability as defined by the ADA. This is a narrow exception that includes;​​​​​

A. Cannot remove mask due to cognitive impairment disability

B. Cannot remove mask due to dexterity/mobility impairments

C. Cannot communicate promptly to ask someone to remove mask

D. NOT meant to cover persons for whom mask-wearing may only be difficult

 

Additionally we require persons requesting an exemption from the mask requirement to meet certain criteria. For example:

  1. Medical consultation by a third party

  2. Medical documentation by a licensed medical provider

  3. Evidence that the person does not have COVID-19 such as a negative result from a test or documentation of recovery. 

  4. Two (2) weeks after being fully vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus. 

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We have established procedures to manage situations with persons who refuse to comply with the requirement to wear a mask: We will deny boarding, make an effort to disembark the individual as soon as possible, or make best effort to remove the individual from transportation facility. If an individual's refusal to comply with the mask requirement constitutes a significant security concern, the operator must report the incident to the Transportation Security Operations Center at 1-866-615-5150 or 1-703-563-3240 in accordance with 49 CFR 1570.203. Mask is defined as material covering the nose and mouth of the wearer, excluding face shields. Face Shields may be worn to supplement a mask , but cannot be worn in place of a mask. 

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