Masks Required Indoors In Montgomery County

Wilson Faucette - Montgomery County, MD - 8.7.2021 - 17:51

Photo: Montgomerycountymd.gov

Masks Are Now Required Indoors Regardless of Vaccination Status

On Thursday, August 5, 2021, the Montgomery County Council voted unanimously to require masks indoors in public spaces for all Montgomery County Residents, whether or not they have taken their shot. This was decided to go into effect on Saturday the 7th at 12:01 AM. This means that this new board of health regulation is now in effect and you now must wear a mask indoors in public spaces in Montgomery County. 

Decision Based On Substantial Spread of COVID-19 In County According to Dr. Gayles

Dr. Travis Gayles is the County Health Officer. He and County Executive Marc Elrich suggested that the council put the mandate in place when the County reached a substantial level of COVID-19 spreading. According to the press release, "Dr. Gayles notified Council during today’s hearing that the County is now an area of substantial transmission." 

This comes after the CDC recommended that local jurisdictions put masking mandates in place when the area has reached substantial or high levels of transmission. The CDC have set definitions of substantial transmission which is 50 - 99 cases per 100,000 residents over a seven day period. 

The county is also citing the Delta Variant of coronavirus for the reinstatement of the masking mandate as well as the fact that not everyone is eligible to be vaccinated(Those Under 12).

The face covering regulation will not end until the county has achieved "moderate" level of transmission for 7 days in a row according to the county's masking information.

For more information on the masking mandate, see https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/face-coverings.html.

To learn more about getting vaccinated visit GoVaxMoCo.com.

What do you think about the county reinstating the masking mandate? Let us know in the comments below.