Mask Mandate, Social Distancing Requirements Lifted At Loudoun County Facilities

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Masks are no longer required at public facilities in Loudoun County. Officials have also removed social distancing guidelines.

Masks will still be required for unvaccinated county employees and those who work in healthcare settings.

County officials announced the change on Saturday. They said the shifted protocols align with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

On Friday, the CDC changed how it measures the community impact of COVID-19. Since the beginning of the omicron wave in December, Loudoun County had "high" levels of community transmission.

"The CDC’s updated list of U.S. counties showing community impact indicates Loudoun County is now experiencing a 'low' level of impact," county officials said in a news release on Saturday. " In accordance with the Board of Supervisors’ February 1 vote to follow CDC guidance regarding the use of masks inside county’s facilities, the requirement is ended."

New CDC guidance considers the number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations, the number of new cases, and hospital capacity.

"With current high levels of vaccination and high levels of population immunity from both vaccination and infections, the risk of medically significant disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 is greatly reduced for most people," the CDC said on Friday. Still, officials noted that some people are still at risk of serious illness due to COVID-19.

The CDC also noted that people should continue to wear masks if they have COVID-19 symptoms, a positive COVID-19 test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19.

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