Despite most people going back to things they were doing pre-pandemic, safety policies are still in place for New York City residents.
The first policy is proof of vaccination anytime you enter an indoor space and the other is face masks on the subway or other public transportation. Things may seem like they're back to normal but the MTA is going to really be cracking down on face masks and enforcing everyone to wear one. Although this has been a policy since last year, on Thursday the MTA announced they will be “stepping up mask enforcement” saying that “those who do not comply with mask requirements will be more likely to face a $50 fine.”
The $50 fine was first introduced September 14, 2020 by Governor Cuomo. “While mask compliance in the MTA system remains very high, we want to make sure that people feel comfortable coming back to public transportation,” he said in 2020. “I have asked the MTA to come up with an enforcement regimen so people know that not only are the cars clean and the stations clean, but the riders will be acting appropriately. We have to be able to say to the riding public that everyone will be wearing masks – and if they refuse to wear a mask they will be penalized.”
Currently, people actually wearing their masks on public transportation is 87 percent on subways, 94 percent on buses, 92 percent on the LIRR and 95 percent on Metro-North.