Masks will no longer be required inside Anne Arundel County buildings starting next week.
The change takes effect Feb. 22, when a similar change affecting all Maryland state facilities begins.
鈥淲ith case counts, hospitalizations and positivity rate falling, and with one of the most vaccinated populations in the state, now is the right time to lift this requirement,鈥� County Executive Steuart Pittman said in a statement Tuesday. 鈥淏eing on the same schedule with Governor [Larry] Hogan and the state will help ease confusion about where masks are required.鈥�
As with much of the nation, the county鈥檚 COVID metrics are trending downward. As of Tuesday, hospitalizations had declined from a January high of 284 to 40. The county鈥檚 case rate has also dropped — from January鈥檚 peak of 176 per 100,000 people per day down to 13. In addition, the test positivity rate is now down to 5.4%.
Masks are still recommended, though, for people who have not received a COVID vaccination.
On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the county will hold a vigil at People鈥檚 Park to mark Anne Arundel鈥檚 thousandth COVID death since the pandemic began. The event will also honor health care workers and others 鈥渇or their continued efforts to save lives throughout the pandemic.鈥�
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