The local governments in Taipei and New Taipei are mulling a new regulation that would bar passengers from boarding city buses and the mass rapid transit (MRT) trains if they are not wearing a mask, Taipei Deputy Mayor Vivian Huang said today.
The "no mask, no ride" policy was scheduled to be discussed later in the day at a meeting of officials from the two city governments, with a view to putting it in place on April 6, Huang said, CNA reports.
While passengers on public transportation in Taipei are encouraged to wear a mask to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it is not compulsory.
If the policy is implemented as proposed, passengers would not be allowed to enter the MRT stations or board the city buses in Taipei and New Taipei unless they are wearing a mask, Huang said.
Under the government's mask rationing policy, citizens and residents of Taiwan can buy three masks per week, but the quota will be increased to nine masks every two weeks with effect from April 9.
Huang said this means everyone will have enough masks to wear on public transportation if the "no mask, no ride" policy is adopted.
Such a policy has already been introduced for passengers traveling on Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) trains and inter-city buses, with effect from April 1.
