Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot has reinstated a mask mandate for employees and visitors at several Maryland state agency buildings.
The mandate, which takes effect Thursday, applies to the Louis L. Goldstein Treasury Building, the Revenue Administration Building, the Annapolis Data Center, the Comptroller鈥檚 Baltimore Office, regional branch offices, satellite offices and the Motor Fuel Laboratory.
The mask rules apply in indoor public areas and gathering spaces, including hallways, restrooms and shared office spaces. Masks are optional in private office spaces occupied by a single vaccinated person.
鈥淲ith the continued threat of COVID-19, the safety of our employees and the public is paramount,鈥� . 鈥淭his simple preventative measure can help stop others from getting sick so that we can finally overcome this terrible pandemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of American lives.”
This follows in order to keep the public and employees safe.
The new mask rules come as the delta surge of coronavirus cases in Maryland appears to have slowed. Statewide figures show coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and even deaths appear to have plateaued, for now, although they remain at higher levels than earlier in the summer.
Maryland also has one of the highest vaccination rates in the county, with more than 71% of total residents having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Some local jurisdictions reinstituted indoor mask mandates in public settings earlier this summer as coronavirus cases first began rising due to the delta variant, including Montgomery and Prince George’s County.
Earlier this week, Prince George’s County officials expanded the indoor mask mandate to children ages 2 to 5 pointing to a rise in cases involving young children.
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