WASHINGTON – D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on Thursday that mask mandates are back in effect for everyone over the age of 2 in the nation’s capital, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
The mandate will take effect at 5 a.m. on July 31.
The mayor’s announcement comes in the wake of new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on masks.
As the delta variant of the novel coronavirus spreads across the country, the District is currently ranked as “substantial” for its rate of transmission.
With the arrival of the variant, cases are on the rise across the country, primarily among the unvaccinated.
Few minutes after the DC announcement, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced all Virginians should consider wearing masks indoor as per CDC guidelines, but added that this is a recommendation not requirement.