Masks Required In Prince William County Facilities

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — Masks will be required in Prince William County facilities beginning on Monday, Aug. 9. The mask mandate will apply to all employees and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, the county said.

Prince William County joins other jurisdictions throughout the northern Virginia area in requiring masks. In August, as concerns about the coronavirus's delta variant continue to grow, school districts in the region have implemented mask mandates as students prepare to return to school this month.

Read more: Masks Required To Start School Year In Manassas

In Prince William County, many measures of the coronavirus are reaching their highest levels since April, according to the Virginia Department of Health. On Saturday, Aug. 7, the county reported 16 hospitalizations due to the coronavirus. It's the highest number of hospitalizations in one day since April 10.

The number of total cases is also on the rise. As of Monday, Aug. 9, Prince William County has an average of 71 daily coronavirus cases over the past 7 days. It's the highest 7 day average since April.

See also: Masks Required To Start School Year In Prince William County

For the Prince William County School system, requiring masks was a matter of protecting the community. They noted that mask wearing can help prevent the spread of the virus, since breakthrough cases have been observed even among vaccinated people.

""Many of us are experiencing pandemic fatigue and a real desire to return to normal," Prince William County Schools Superintendent Tanya McDade wrote in a letter to parents. "However, we are still in this together and will get through this."

On Facebook, many residents were less than pleased about the Prince William County mask mandate. Residents voiced their opinions on the county's post announcing the decision.

"This is tyranny and y’all should be ashamed of yourselves," one person wrote.

Still, other residents understood the need for the mask mandate, and viewed it as a way to protect members of their community. One commenter compared the the use of masks to the state's "click it or ticket" campaign to encourage seatbelt use. "Mask it or casket," their comment said.