The County Council has once again extended the indoor mask mandate for public spaces in the county.
Sitting as the Board of Health, the council enacted a Second Amended Board of Health Regulation to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 until 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 21. The regulation will terminate on Feb. 21 without any further action by the Board of Health, according to a press release.
“By continuing to work together, we are hopeful that we will contain this latest surge in cases next month,” said Council President Gabe Albornoz (D-At Large). “Until then, we must continue the tried and true protections that we know help to limit community spread.”
The county has been experiencing an extended period of high viral transmission due to the omicron variant. As of Jan. 25, Montgomery County’s transmission rate was 9.1 percent and the county had recorded 579.8 cases per 100,000 residents during the past seven days.
The amended regulation went into effect at 12 a.m. today (Jan. 26).
Earlier in the meeting, the council declined to take a vote on a proposal to create a vaccine “passport” for required use to enter bars, restaurants, theaters, fitness centers and similar businesses.
Councilmembers including Albornoz and Vice President Evan Glass (D-At Large) expressed skepticism that such a requirement would drive an increase in the county’s vaccination rate, already around 90%.
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