The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order to wear proper face coverings when using public transportation systems to help reduce the introduction, transmission and spread of COVID-19.
Under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act, the federal mask mandate requires the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) to ensure that people wear a mask for the duration of their presence on a Marine Highway System vessel and while in a terminal building or on terminal premises.
The order began on February 1, 2021 at 11:59 PM, which states that the Alaska Marine Highway System will comply with the federal mandate, requiring people two years and older to wear a proper face covering while using facilities and traveling on vessels. The Alaska Marine Highway System will also make reasonable accommodation for a passenger who is unable to wear a face covering due to a disability.
According to the press release, the Alaska Marine Highway System currently requires passengers and employees to wear masks, but the CDC order makes the refusal to wear a face covering a federal law violation. Current information about AMHS travel protocols can be found here. The CDC order can be found here.
