Loudoun County Requires Masks In All County Facilities

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA —Masks will once again be required in Loudoun's county facilities, officials announced on Thursday. The renewed mask mandate will go into effect on Monday, Aug. 9.

The mask mandate will affect all employees and visitors at county facilities, regardless of their vaccination status. The decision to require masks again arrives as coronavirus cases begin to rise again across the county.

County officials said the decision was in line with CDC guidelines for communities with "substantial" or "high" levels of community transmission. Loudoun County's community transmission level is considered substantial, according to the CDC.

The new mask mandate only applies to facilities operated by the county. However, the Loudoun County Health Department recommends residents wear masks in all public indoor settings such as grocery stores, gyms, restaurants, and shopping centers.

Dr. David Goodfriend is the director of the Loudoun County Health Department. "Wearing a mask helps to prevent the spread of the virus among both unvaccinated and vaccinated people," Dr. Goodfriend said. "In addition to wearing a mask, the most important action you can take is getting vaccinated if you have not already done so because we know that vaccinated people are less likely to experience severe disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19, including from the Delta variant."

Earlier this week, Loudoun County Public Schools announced their own mask mandate. Students, visitors, teachers, and staff members will all be required to wear masks in schools, regardless of their vaccination status.

Read more: Masks Required To Start School Year In Loudoun County

School officials said the decision will protect vulnerable people in the school system and minimize the need for quarantines. Masks will not be required outdoors during recess or during lunch.

In addition to mask wearing, Loudoun County outlined several other mitigation measures that residents can practice. They said residents should avoid crowds, get tested if they develop symptoms, stay home if they're sick, maintain social distance where possible, and wash their hands regularly.