Prince George’s County is lifting its indoor mask mandate on Friday at 5 p.m., County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced Wednesday.
The county will continue to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and require masks in schools, childcare facilities and health care settings, as well as on public transportation, Alsobrooks said.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan lifted the statewide indoor mask mandate earlier this month, but individual counties could decide to maintain their own mandates. Several counties, including Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, decided to postpone lifting their indoor mask mandates.
“We’ve chosen — in so many instances — to move at a slower pace, even than the rest of the state, out of an abundance of caution,” Alsobrooks said.
Alsobrooks previously announced the county would update its mask mandate based on key COVID-19 metrics and county vaccination rates.
According to state COVID-19 vaccine data, about 36.3 percent of Prince George’s County residents are fully vaccinated, compared with about 46.5 percent in the state overall.
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Individual businesses may keep a mask mandate if they wish.
Alsobrooks emphasized that she understands the concerns of people who are wary of the new guidelines.
“I understand your concern — Prince Georgians have suffered greatly,” she said.
