Mandatory use of facemask urged for in public transport

The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (Helsinginseudunliikenne – HSL) urged all passengers to use facemasks mandatorily while travelling in public transports, unless unable to do so for medical reasons, said an official press release on Wednesday.

HSL consistently receives customer feedback raising concerns about people not wearing facemask and now on an average 80 per cent of passengers wear facemask on public transport, said the City of Helsinki in a press release.

The ticket inspectors and security guards may ask passengers to wear face masks, if necessary.

Meanwhile, the national railway operator VR on Wednesday said all passengers on board are required to use facemask on train from Thursday.

The use of facemask is mandatory, excepting the people who have medical conditions precluding their use, said VR in a press release.

The masks should be used in fall VR long-distance and some commuter trains (D, G, M, R, T and Z), which operate between Helsinki and Lahti and Tampere and Lahti.

Referring to a customer survey, VR said 65.5 per cent of the respondents supported mandatory use of facemask on train.

“We have managed to keep the trains really safe during the coronavirus crisis. No infection has been detected on the trains either among the passengers or our staff, and we want the situation to remain as good as the previous months of the pandemic,” said VR Passenger Traffic Director Topi Simola.