The White House will maintain its mask mandate on its grounds even as Washington, DC lifts its indoor mask requirement beginning Monday, highlighting the mixed messages many Americans are receiving about Covid-19.
Even though the indoor masking rule for most public spaces in Washington, D.C. has been lifted, the White House will maintain its mask mandate.
“The White House follows CDC guidance, which recommends masking in areas of high or substantial transmission,” White House assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz told CNN.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation’s capital continues to have “substantial” community transmission, with approximately 90 new weekly cases per 100,000 residents.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced her decision to repeal the mandate last week, but she stressed the importance of wearing masks.
According to city officials, the emphasis has shifted from a blanket mandate to following risk-based guidance from DC Health that takes into account current health metrics and a person’s vaccination status.
