One of the last masked portions of Penn State student life is no longer requiring mask-wearing.

CATA transportation services are no longer enforcing their mask mandate in regards to its passengers and Customer Service Center patrons, effective immediately. In an alert to its riders, CATA encouraged people to continue masking if they wished to do so.

The change comes after a recent ruling by a federal judge struck down the TSA’s mask requirement for public transportation. Prior to the ruling, it had been previously announced that CATA’s mask mandate would be extended through at least May 3.

CATA’s relaxing of COVID-19 guidelines puts them in line with Penn State University and the State College borough, which both reversed masking ordinances in March. The CDC maintains that people should wear masks in indoor public transportation settings.

Centre County recorded five new COVID-19 cases on Monday, which was its smallest increase in two weeks. Across Pennsylvania, fewer than 1,000 new cases were reported for the second consecutive day, bringing its smallest increase in the last week. Mount Nittany Medical Center currently houses three patients for COVID-19, though none are in intensive care.

Questions about the change are being directed to CATA’s phone number: 814-238-2282.