Fog Blog Saint John Log: Face Masks To Be Worn On City Transit Buses:

Public bus passengers in Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John will be required to wear a face mask starting next week as the three transit services increase ridership allowances to meet increased demands in the yellow phase of the COVID-19 recovery.

Only children under the age of two and those with medical conditions, such as asthma, heart or lung diseases, or claustrophobia, will be exempt under the new operational plan announced Monday by Codiac Transpo, Fredericton Transit, and Saint John Transit.

"We've been running at between six and nine passengers per bus for some time and with entering into the yellow recovery stage provincially, we're seeing more demand for our transit buses," said Meredith Gilbert, manager of transit and parking services for the City of Fredericton.

"So we're looking to have some means of increasing passenger loads but still protecting the public from COVID-19."

Requiring passengers to wear masks starting June 29 will allow the transit services to increase the passenger limit to between 15 and 20 per bus — about 50 per cent of the regular seating capacity, said Gilbert.