Everyone in the nation’s capital must comply with a face-mask mandate in indoor public places, the mayor confirmed Thursday afternoon.
“Masks will once again be required indoors in D.C. beginning Saturday," Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said in a reversal of recent policy driven by new federal guidelines that recommend indoor masking in areas where coronavirus transmission is high, reports the Washington Post.
The mandate will go into effect on July 31 at 5 a.m.
“We will continue to do what is necessary to keep D.C. safe,” said Bowser.
“People over the age of 2 must wear a mask indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. I know D.C. residents have been very closely following public health guidelines, and they will embrace this,” added the Mayor.
The decision comes hours after Capitol Police were instructed to arrest staff and visitors who refuse to comply with the new mask mandates.
“Although this applies to the Members of Congress, officers should not arrest any Member for failure to wear a mask or to comply with the mask mandate,” the guidance states. “Any Member who fails to comply with a request to wear a mask should be reported to the House Sergeant at Arm’s office.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
