Los Angeles County will continue to require mask-wearing for travel despite a judge’s ruling that struck down the federal mandate.

Local counties have the ability to enforce stronger health orders, and starting Friday L.A. County riders will again be required to mask up for travel on planes, trains, buses, ferries, rideshare services and transit hubs such as airports and bus stations.

“This order supports the CDC’s assessment that, at this time, requiring masking in the transportation quarter remains essential for protecting the public’s health,” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Thursday. “Transportation settings are often crowded, with limited and inadequate ventilation and deemed to be higher risk settings for virus transmission.”

On Wednesday, the CDC asked the U.S. Justice Department to file an appeal to extend the federal mask mandate which was struck down by a Florida judge on Monday, April 18.

L.A. Weekly can confirm that L.A. Metro has informed staff about the change, days after lifting their mask mandate.

“Metro will adhere to the new LACDPH executive order, as we have with all of the county’s previous COVID-19 directives,” Metro said in a letter obtained by L.A. Weekly. “This order aligns with the most recent guidance issued by the CDC.”

On Thursday, L.A. Public Health reported 2,123 new positive cases of COVID-19 and 13 New Deaths with 224 people currently hospitalized with the disesase.

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