DC To Lift Indoor Mask Mandate In Most Public Places

WASHINGTON, DC — The D.C. government will lift its indoor mask mandate on Monday, Nov. 22, although masks will still be required in schools and other settings, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said Tuesday.

“I want to be very clear, this does not mean that people should stop, that everyone needs to stop wearing their mask, but it does mean that we're shifting the government's response,” Bowser said at a news briefing.

Masks will still be required, regardless of vaccination status, in these places:

• Any private business that wants a mask requirement.
• On public transport like buses and trains, inside train stations, in airports, and while in ride-share vehicles.
• Inside schools, childcare facilities and libraries.
• Congregate facilities, such as nursing homes/assisted living facilities, shelters, dorms/residences and correctional facilities.
• In DC Government facilities where there is direct interaction between employees and the public like a DMV service center.

People visiting places like churches and gyms would no longer be required by the D.C. government to wear masks starting Monday.

Instead of following a blanket mandate, residents, visitors and workers will be advised to follow risk-based guidance from DC Health that accounts for current health metrics and a person’s vaccination status, the DC government said in a news release Tuesday.

Updated guidance will be posted on coronavirus.dc.gov in the coming days.

"DC Health reminds residents that the strongest protection against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated, and encourages all people, regardless of vaccination status, to consider their risk factors and surroundings carefully when choosing layered mitigations strategies (e.g., wearing a mask, social distancing)," the government said.

Nearly all the COVID-19-related hospitalizations in the District over the past week occurred among unvaccinated people, compared to 90 percent a month ago, officials said at the news briefing.