Montco Says Masks Should Be Worn Indoors, Even If Vaccinated

NORRISTOWN, PA — All members of the general public, regardless of whether or not they are vaccinated, should now wear a mask indoors, Montgomery County officials announced Friday.

The shift to universal masking guidance indoors in public is in step with the latest CDC recommendations. It comes as the more contagious delta variant spreads around the nation and the county, causing a resurgence in the virus, and as Montgomery County remains in the "substantial" transmission category.

The county will also require masks for all staff and visitors in county buildings and facilities starting next Monday, Aug. 16.

"If we want to get back to where things were just a few short weeks ago, we need to work together," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said earlier this week, pointing to a need to increase the vaccination rate. While there have been breakthrough cases of vaccinated individuals getting infected, the vaccine remains the best and quickest avenue to limit the spread of the virus, health officials say.

According to the county's guidance, masks will not be recommended for vaccinated individuals if the county can get back to the "moderate" transmission category, which is 10 to 49 cases 100,000 residents. That rate is currently at 68.

Montgomery County's positivity rate is 4.3 percent, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. That marks just a very slight increase over last week's 4.2 percent mark. For several weeks now, the rate has increased by close to a full percentage point per week.

The issue of masking has become specifically controversial as of late as school districts develop health and safety plans heading into the new 2021-22 school year. The county recommended masks indoors for all teachers and students in its updated guidance two weeks ago, but Friday's announcement marks the first time they've changed their recommendation on masking for the general public in months.

In Montgomery County, 77.6 percent of eligible residents 12 and older have received at least one shot of the vaccine.

To learn more about getting vaccinated in Montgomery County, see here.