The District’s general indoor mask mandate will no longer be in place starting Monday, November 22, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced.
According to DC Health, people will still have to wear face masks in these settings — regardless of vaccination status:
- Any private business that requires wearing masks
- On public transport such as buses and trains, inside train stations, in airports, and while in ridesharing vehicles
- Inside libraries, schools, and childcare centers
- Congregate facilities including nursing homes and assisted living facilities, shelters, dorms/residences, and correctional facilities
- In DC government facilities where there is direct interaction between employees and the public, including DMV service center and DHS service center.
With the lifting of the blanket mask requirement, DC is adopting a new “risk-based” approach against the COVID-19 pandemic, which involves current health metrics and the vaccination status of each individual.
Going forward, @_DCHealth will create guidance based on risk levels and the use of layered mitigation strategies.
Risk levels will primarily be tied to a person’s vaccination status. pic.twitter.com/risW9dW7Eg
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) November 16, 2021
DC Health will soon release its updated guidance on coronavirus.dc.gov.
In a statement, the Department encouraged residents one more time to get vaccinated against COVID-19, reminding that vaccination is still the strongest protection against the infectious disease, and asked everyone to consider their risk factors and surroundings regardless of vaccination status.