Masks Required In All Howard County Buildings: Officials

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Effective Saturday, masks will be required in all Howard County buildings. All employees and the public are required to wear masks upon entry and throughout common areas, including elevators, stairwells and meetings with other employees or visitors.

Howard County currently has a positivity rate of 2.28 percent, the lowest in the state, and a 7-day average daily case rate of 8.9 per 100,000 residents. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the COVID-19 community transmission in Howard County has reached the “substantial” level.

“Howard County’s increasing case rates are concerning, and it is important for residents to be aware of the current risks, especially if they are still unvaccinated," Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. "Masks continue to be an effective tool in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and we want to ensure our employees and public visitors are safe when in our buildings. Let’s continue to look out for one another, especially those 11 years old and younger who are not yet eligible to receive vaccines, and if you haven’t already and are able – please get vaccinated.”

Howard County also leads the state in vaccination progress, with 68.6 percent of all residents fully vaccinated and 81 percent of those residents 12 and older fully vaccinated. Vaccine clinics are operating daily. To find a location nearby, please visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov.

“Requiring masks is a necessary precaution to keep our employees and public safe,” Howard County Chief Administrative Officer Lonnie Robbins said. “Our county employees have worked hard to make our buildings safe and accessible to our residents and businesses who need to access services in person.”

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