Regardless of vaccination status, face masks are required to be worn in indoor public spaces in DC starting Saturday.
With the rise in COVID cases in the past few weeks and the new information that vaccinated people can spread the delta variant and that it’s as contagious as chickenpox, according to the CDC, DC officials are reversing their mask mandates. Major Muriel Bowser announced, “all people over the age of two must wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status.”
Restaurant and bar goers will be required to wear a mask when not actively eating or drinking, and staff and employees must wear one too. As well as inside offices, gyms, places of worship, overall any indoor public space. During a press conference Thursday, DC Health director LaQuandra Nesbitt said “we do not have an exception for any type of indoor venue.” Masks will also be required in large outdoor settings like baseball games. This is in an effort to contain the recent surge of COVID that is happening all over the United States.
Furthermore, some counties in the DMV are being hit harder by the COVID surge, in particular Virginia. Frederick, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford county, and parts of Page and Warren counties, are the most affected regions. DC is trying to get ahead of this wave by reinstating mask-wearing indoors.
Here are the current CDC mask-wearing guidelines:
- If you are not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older, you should wear a mask in indoor public places.
- In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings.
- In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
- People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may NOT be protected even if they are fully vaccinated. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.
- If you are fully vaccinated, see When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated.
If you need assistance this tool helps find a vaccination center near you as well as provides you with more information according to our city and area.
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