Mask Mandates Around Maryland And Beyond This Memorial Day 2021

MARYLAND — This Memorial Day weekend in Maryland, you will not have to wear your mask in most places.

Those in Baltimore City, however, are still required to do so in certain circumstances.

And if you are traveling to a neighboring state, you may need to keep your mask on indoors.

The mask mandate in Maryland was lifted effective Saturday, May 15, by Gov. Larry Hogan. People still need to wear face coverings while using public transportation, in health care settings and inside at schools, according to the governor's amended mask order.

In Baltimore, people must still wear face coverings inside and at outdoor ticketed events to prevent the spread of the virus.

"We do require masks indoors at all locations," Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa said at a news conference this week.

"When you're walking down the street or at the park and able to maintain social distancing, wearing a mask isn't necessary," Dzirasa said.

"But when you enter a business, use public transportation, or pick up your children from school, you should be wearing a mask," Dzirasa said. "Masking works, and it has been proven to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Public health experts agree that disease transmission is much more likely in indoor spaces, especially when masks can't be worn. This Memorial Day weekend, your vaccination status will determine whether or not your holiday plans are safe."

The city's mayor and health commissioner plan to lift the mask mandate in Baltimore when 65 percent of adult residents in the city have gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. At a news conference Thursday, Mayor Brandon Scott said the city was "not that far" from its target and was at 54 percent vaccinated.

"If folks want to see it happen and [the mask mandate] go away faster," Scott said, "then go get vaccinated."

Other areas in the state that had been holding on to tighter restrictions lifted them. Montgomery and Prince George's counties modified their mask mandates Friday, aligning them with state guidance:

• Face coverings are only required in these areas in Montgomery County, effective May 28: public transportation, schools, health care settings, youth camps, child care facilities, county offices and county facilities.
• In Prince George's County, residents now only need to wear face coverings in schools, on public transportation and in medical facilities.

"Baltimore City is different from every other jurisdiction," Dzirasa said in defense of the city's mask mandate. "We're a large urban jurisdiction, accounting for about 10 percent of the state's population. We're much more densely populated. We also house residents who may have more issues with access to transportation, and have additional underlying comorbidities."

In addition, many Baltimore residents are "front-line, essential workers that can't necessarily take off work to get a vaccine appointment during the day," said Dzirasa, who noted the city was ramping up mobile clinics to help boost vaccination rates.

Some Neighboring States Ease Mask Mandates (Not PA)

Delaware lifted its requirement that people wear face coverings indoors. Effective May 21, its governor aligned with the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In New Jersey, face masks are no longer required in most outdoor and indoor settings, except those outlined by the CDC.

In Pennsylvania, people still need to wear masks indoors, even if they can keep their distance. The mandate will be lifted by June 28 at the latest.

Virginia is not requiring masks among vaccinated individuals. Its mask order, which was officially amended Friday, stipulates that face coverings are not required except in health care settings, in detention facilities, at schools (serving kindergarten through 12th grades) and on public transportation.

West Virginia lifted its indoor face covering requirement for those who are fully vaccinated. Masking is still required for those who are not yet fully vaccinated and will be until June 20.

What Is The CDC Guidance?

The CDC has ordered people to wear masks on public transportation. That is defined as while awaiting, boarding, disembarking or traveling on airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares, including at airports, bus or ferry terminals, train and subway stations, seaports, U.S. ports of entry, and other locations where people board public transportation in the United States.

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped its recommendation that immunized people wear masks and distance themselves indoors, and the state of Maryland followed suit.

Health officials still suggest masking and distancing for unvaccinated residents as well as in health care settings and crowded spaces, like prisons, buses, planes and homeless shelters.

Here is the new CDC guidance if you've been fully vaccinated:

• You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
• You can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
• If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
• You need to pay close attention to the situation at your international destination before traveling outside the United States.
  • You do not need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it.
  • You still need to show a negative test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding an international flight to the United States.
  • You should still get tested 3-5 days after international travel.
  • You do not need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.
• If you've been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
  • However, if you live or work in a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still get tested, even if you don't have symptoms.

Unvaccinated individuals should take the following precautions, according to the CDC:

• Wear masks that cover the nose and mouth.
• Stay 6 feet apart from people outside one's own household.
• Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.

Those who still need to get the shot can search for COVID-19 vaccine providers in Maryland.

See Also:

• Masks In Maryland: 'No More Restrictions,' Governor Says
• Target, Walmart, CVS, Costco: MD Stores End Masks For Vaccinated
• Prince George's Keeps Mask Mandate, Lifts Remaining Capacity Caps
• Everything You Need For An Amazing Memorial Day Weekend