Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser backtracked on loosening mask requirements for vaccinated residents less than 24 hours after issuing new guidance.
Customers in the city will still be required to wear masks while inside stores, and business owners will be allowed to require vaccination cards upon entry of an establishment, according to guidance on Saturday. But nothing changes for now about inside masks for fully vaccinated people in public. That’s the part DC just backtracked on. 2/2
The updates were issued to make clear that residents can not walk into establishments without a mask. Bowser had signed an order on Friday that said fully vaccinated people can “gather indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying six (6) feet apart.”
DESPITE CDC GUIDANCE, FULLY VACCINATED BIDEN WEARS MASK OUTSIDE DUE TO ‘PATRIOTIC RESPONSIBILITY’
Vaccinated people who travel within the United States don’t need to self-quarantine upon return to Washington, according to the guidance. And people may gather maskless outdoors unless they are attending a crowded event.
The updates come as some states have done away with mask mandates, such as Florida, Texas, and Georgia.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has advocated for continued mask use even if someone is vaccinated, warning last month that vaccinated people could still be infected with the virus and spread it to others.
“What happens is that you might get infected and get absolutely no symptoms, not know you’re infected, and then inadvertently go into a situation with vulnerable people. And if you don’t have a mask, you might inadvertently infect them,” he said. Bowser’s office did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.