Washington — The Department of Transportation has announced it will distribute about 15.5 million cloth facial coverings to transportation workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Previous guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified transportation workers as essential and among those in “critical infrastructure” occupations.
“Transportation workers are on the front lines of keeping our transportation systems operational during this public health emergency and their well-being and safety is paramount,” Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao said in a May 28 press release.
Distribution of facial coverings by industry is as follows:
- Mass transit and passenger rail: 4.8 million
- Aviation: 3.8 million
- Maritime: 2.4 million
- Freight rail: 2.2 million
- Highway and motor carrier: 2.1 million
- Pipeline systems: 258,000
FEMA secured the facial coverings, which are expected to be distributed via the U.S. Postal Service “over the coming weeks.”