Starting Monday, April 27, those planning to ride the Bangor city bus service must cover their faces — or be denied boarding.

"It could be as simple as a scarf. It could be as simple as a bandana." says Laurie Linscott, superintendent of the bus service, known as the Community Connector. "It even could be as simple as keeping part of your clothes up over your nose and face."

And, says Linscott, at no time may passengers remove that covering from their faces until they have fully exited the vehicle.

"It's not something you can just ‘oh I have it on, I can take it off now.’ You have to have it on for the duration of your trip.” she says.

Drivers are also required to wear face masks. Linscott says with the bus providing about 800,000 rides each year and confirmed COVID-19 cases in Penobscot county, the city decided that further precautions were warranted.

Precautions already taken include stepped-up cleaning protocols, a limit of ten passengers on board at one time, boarding from the back and the suspension of fee collection.

Linscott says the protocols are in force until further notice.