This week, the Charles County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution that reinstates the indoor public mask mandate effective Friday, August 13, at 5:00 pm. The Commissioners also declared a local state of emergency to impose the mask mandate, which requires individuals to wear masks at all public indoor locations, regardless of vaccination status.
The Commissioners reinstituted the indoor public mask mandate after briefings from Charles County’s Health Officer Dr. Dianna E. Abney and other partnership agencies detailing a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases and the County’s rising positivity rate.
As previously reported on Conduit Street, the Centers for Disease Control now recommends fully vaccinated people and school-age kids wear masks in places with high COVID transmission rates — a category in which Charles County falls.
According to a County press release:
All residents and visitors over the age of five will be required to wear masks in all indoor public venues and businesses in Charles County, even if they are fully vaccinated. This includes restaurants, retail stores, entertainment venues, conference centers, and office settings. Similar to previous mask mandates, some exceptions apply, such as when an individual is actively eating or drinking or individuals who have a disability that prevents them from wearing a mask.
Additionally, Commissioners voted to move all scheduled September Commissioner public hearings from in person to a virtual format. To view the resolution, visit BoardDocs.