Ferries, Airport Lift Mask Orders After Judge Strikes Down Mandate

In the wake of a Florida judge's ruling on Monday to strike down the federal mask mandate for planes and public transit, the transportation agencies serving Nantucket all responded by lifting the mask requirements on their vessels and in their facilities.
The Steamship Authority, after initially delaying any change on Tuesday, announced late Wednesday that it was lifting its mask order. "The Coast Guard stated that it will no longer enforce directives regarding mask use on public transportation and in transportation hubs. Accordingly, the Steamship Authority will no longer be requiring masks to be worn at its terminals or on its ferries. Masks are also no longer required on its shuttle buses in accordance with a similar directive issued Tuesday by the Federal Transit Administration."
Hy-Line Cruises officially ended its mask mandate on Tuesday, effective as of the 11:55 am departure today from Hyannis to Nantucket, President Murray Scudder told the Current. After enforcing the mandate for more than two years, the Hy-Line Cruises staff is “doing kart wheels” Scudder said. Having to police passengers about masks “weighed heavily upon them, that’s for sure.”
At Nantucket Memorial Airport, officials initially asked for patience Tuesday morning as they reviewed the ruling before a formal announcement that masks are now optional was issued by Tuesday afternoon: “TSA will no longer enforce the Federal mask mandate at #ACK. Masks are currently optional in the Terminal, TSA screening & most airline aircraft. Please be advised that Terminal decals and PSA’s conflict with recent guidance, and will be reviewed as appropriate.”

Just hours after the judge's decision, which prompted the Biden administration to announce that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer enforce the mask mandate on public transportation, major airlines including Delta and United eliminated mask requirements on their planes.