Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Tuesday that the indoor mask mandate will be lifted beginning Nov. 22.
The mandate was first introduced in the summer of 2020 and was reinstated In July when the delta variant began spreading around the country.
During a news conference, Bowser said “This does not mean that … everyone needs to stop wearing their mask, but it does mean that we’re shifting the government’s response to providing you this risk-based information and recommending layering strategies as the best way to protect yourself and the community”.
Masks will still be required in certain indoor settings including government buildings, childcare facilities, and businesses that choose to require them.
Bowser explained that D.C. Health will “create guidance based on risk levels and the use of layered mitigation strategies”.
In her tweet, she noted that “Risk levels will primarily be tied to a person’s vaccination status”.
Residents of D.C. will be able to assess their own risks and make decisions about wearing masks.
