Deputy Taipei Mayor Huang Shan-shan says that the city may start requiring people to wear surgical masks when taking public transport. The policy would apply to subways and buses within the city limits.
Huang says that the policy could be implemented on April 9 at the soonest. On that date, Taiwan will adjust its surgical mask rationing system, allowing each person to buy nine masks in each 14-day period. That’s up from the three masks each person is currently allowed to buy once every seven days.
Huang says officials worry that riders will be unable to get the masks that they will need if the mask requirement takes effect before that date.
Taiwan’s national railway system is already requiring passengers to wear surgical masks. Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center is recommending that people wear masks when limited space means that they cannot keep the recommended distance apart from others.