PSTA Riders Required To Wear Mask, No Mask No Service

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Face masks or coverings are now required for all riders who rely on Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority for transportation; the move is aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus. PSTA announced the policy on its Twitter feed June 15.

Several customer service transit locations are giving away free masks to riders. Those locations are:

• Grand Central Station
• Park Street Terminal
• Pinellas Park Transit Center
• Williams Park

All bus operators are also required to wear face coverings, said PSTA on their website.
PSTA said it has increased daily cleaning on all vehicles, terminals, transit centers and facilities.

If riders are not wearing a mask or protective face covering, they will be turned away or passed by due to safety concerns for PSTA employees and the community. Wearing a mask is recommended by @CDCgov travel guidelines on transit. pic.twitter.com/JCOKxy6nJJ

A study by a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University professor has found that not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person's chances of being infected by the coronavirus virus, reported Science Daily.

"Our results clearly show that airborne transmission via respiratory aerosols represents the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19," Renyi Zhang, Texas A&M Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Sciences said. "By analyzing the pandemic trends without face-covering using the statistical method and by projecting the trend, we calculated that over 66,000 infections were prevented by using a face mask in little over a month in New York City. We conclude that wearing a face mask in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent inter-human transmission.

This inexpensive practice, in conjunction with social distancing and other procedures, is the most likely opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic. Our work also highlights that sound science is essential in decision-making for the current and future public health pandemics."

Science Daily reported that the team examined the chances of coronavirus infection and how the virus is easily passed from person to person. From trends and mitigation procedures in China, Italy and New York City, the researchers found that using a face mask reduced the number of infections by more than 78,000 in Italy from April 6-May 9 and by over 66,000 in New York City from April 17-May 9.

Some St. Pete residents are pushing back about wearing masks on the PSTA routes. A Twitter user, Mama Glove posted in response to PSTA's announcement:

Hope those who are unable to wear a mask due to COPD , anxiety, etc takes you to court for discrimination!

Another tweet in response to PSTA:

Who will this hurt most? pic.twitter.com/cy5eCkGhIF
— Jegi Nineti (@JegiNineti)

Three downtown St. Pete restaurants have recently temporarily closed because of employees who tested positive for coronavirus: The Galley, the Avenue Eat + Drink and Park & Rec DTSP.

Park & Rec DTSP posted on Facebook that one of their staff members tested positive for coronavirus, and for the safety of customers and the rest of their staff, every staff member must be tested and cleared by a doctor to return. During their closure, they said they are thoroughly sanitizing the establishment.

Park & Rec DTSP CEO Stephen Schrutt posted the same announcement about his other downtown St. Pete restaurant, the Avenue Eat + Drink on his Instagram account.

Owner Pete Boland of the Galley posted on their Facebook page that they have temporarily closed after learning that a few of their staff members tested positive for coronavirus, and are using the extra time to deep clean their facility.

As of June 16, the Florida Department of Health reported in Pinellas County, 2,337 positive cases have been confirmed and 102 coronavirus-related deaths. Also, across the county, the report stated 468 hospitalizations due to coronavirus.

The highest number of cases reported in St. Petersburg are in the 33712 zip code at 183 positive confirmed cases.

77,326 positive cases of the coronavirus and 2,938 coronavirus-related deaths across the state. Statewide coronavirus hospitalizations are reported at 12,015.