Masked Again County May Look Up
At that place are no longer any states requiring people generally to wear masks in public places. Several states yet mandate masking for most people in certain high-risk settings, including health intendance and long-term care facilities.
The federal government'southward nationwide mask gild for public transit, commercial flights and transportation hubs such as airports and train stations was struck down by a federal approximate April 18. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has stopped enforcing the mandate and major U.S. airlines made confront-covering optional on domestic flights. The Section of Justice said April xx that it will appeal the ruling.
Nearly all of the cities and counties that extended or reimposed mask orders amidst last summer'due south delta variant surge and the emergence of the omicron variant in late 2021 have dropped those rules every bit the omicron wave subsides.
The U.S. Centers for Illness Command and Prevention (CDC) revised its confront-covering guidance in late February and now recommends indoor masking for all but in communities deemed to be at high take a chance for COVID-xix based on hospitalizations, local hospital chapters and new infections. (You can check your surface area's hazard level on the CDC's website.)
Over the grade of the pandemic, 39 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia had orders broadly requiring people to vesture masks in public. 11 states have non imposed mandates at whatsoever betoken. Several states, including Florida, Iowa, Montana, Tennessee and Texas, have moved via legislation or executive action to prevent local governments and school districts from doing so.
Where at that place are no state or local requirements, businesses and other private entities may set their own mask policies.
Here's where each state stands on the use of confront masks as of April 22.
Alabama
Alabama's mask mandate expired April 9, 2021. The state Section of Public Health recommends face-covering in public as part of its COVID-19 safety guidance. Municipal mask mandates in Birmingham and Montgomery expired in May 2021.
Learn more: Read the Alabama health department's COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
Alaska
Alaska'due south Department of Health Social Services "strongly encourages the wearing of masks in public," merely the state has not required information technology. Juneau, the state capital, downgraded its indoor mask requirement to a recommendation Feb. 28.
Learn more: Read the Alaska wellness section's mask guidance.
Arizona
Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive gild March 25, 2021, lifting all state COVID-xix restrictions on businesses and restricting local governments' power to impose and enforce mask orders. In June, the state legislature voted to bar local and school mask mandates outright, but the Arizona Supreme Courtroom struck downwards the ban in November, ruling that lawmakers violated the state constitution by including the mask measures in an otherwise unrelated budget beak.
Larn more: Read the Arizona Department of Health Services' mask guidance.
Arkansas
Gov. Asa Hutchinson lifted his viii-month-old mask mandate March 31, 2021. Health officials continue to recommend that Arkansans wear masks in public when unable to maintain 6 feet of distance from people outside their households. A country police barring local governments from imposing mask orders, enacted in April, was struck downward past an Arkansas gauge Dec. 29.
Learn more: Read the Arkansas health department's mask guidance.
California
Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted California's indoor mask mandate March 1. Similar local orders in Los Angeles County and most of the Bay Area have also been rescinded.
The state continues to strongly recommend face-roofing for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, in indoor public settings. Masks remain mandatory statewide in wellness care and long-term intendance facilities, correctional facilities, and homeless and emergency shelters, and Los Angeles County requires masking on public transit, including taxis and rideshares.
Learn more: Read California's updated confront-covering guidance.
Colorado
Gov. Jared Polis ended Colorado'southward statewide mandate May xiv, 2021. Face up-covering is required in residential care facilities and on public transportation, regardless of vaccination status. Local indoor mask orders in the city of Denver and Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Jefferson and Larimar counties accept been lifted.
Learn more: Read the Colorado health department's mask guidance.
Connecticut
Gov. Ned Lamont lifted Connecticut'southward confront-roofing club Feb. 28. Previously, masks were required for unvaccinated people age 2 and over in indoor public places. Masking remains mandatory for all in wellness intendance settings such as hospitals, doctors' offices and urgent care centers; long-term care facilities; and shelters. The city of Bridgeport ended its indoor mask mandate Feb. 23 and New Haven did so March 7.
Learn more: Read Connecticut'due south current COVID-nineteen wellness guidance.
Delaware
Gov. John Carrey'southward indoor mask club was lifted Feb. 11. Previously, masks were required for people kindergarten age and older in indoor public settings, except while eating or drinking in restaurants and bars. Masks remain mandatory in hospitals, long-term care facilities and state authorities buildings.
Acquire more: Read Delaware's face-covering guidance.
Commune of Columbia
The Commune'due south social club requiring masks for people over historic period 2 in indoor public places largely expired March i. Fade-roofing is no longer required in retail businesses, entertainment venues and near other public settings only remains mandatory in libraries, health care facilities, long-term care facilities, shelters, prisons and District government buildings in which employees interact with the public.
Larn more: Read the Commune'south updated COVID-xix action program.
Florida
Florida recommends but has not required face up coverings for the general public. Several cities and large counties, including Miami-Dade, Palm Embankment and Hillsborough (which includes Tampa), had mask requirements, but Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order May 3, 2021. that barred local governments and school systems from imposing COVID-xix restrictions, including mask rules.
Larn more than: Read Florida's order barring local mask mandates.
Georgia
The governor'southward office and the country Section of Public Health recommend masking in public to forestall the spread of COVID-xix. Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive club in August 2021 prohibiting local governments from imposing mask rules on individual businesses. Mandates in Atlanta and Savannah that required nearly individuals to mask up in indoor public places were rescinded in belatedly February.
An indoor mask mandate is in upshot in Athens and Clarke County through at least May v, but by local ordinance the order is not enforced if the county's COVID-xix case rate is below 100 per 100,000 residents, as was the instance as of the latest CDC update April 14.
Learn more: Read the Georgia Department of Public Wellness'south COVID-19 guidance.
Hawaii
The land's indoor face up-roofing order, in place since April 2020, expired March 25. Previously, people historic period 5 and up are required to wear a mask in most indoor public settings.
Acquire more: Read Hawaii'southward mask guidance.
Idaho
"Anybody should wear a mask in public places," the state Department of Wellness & Welfare recommends. Boise, Idaho'southward majuscule and largest city, dropped its mask mandate in May 2021, every bit did several other jurisdictions. Gov. Brad Little signed an executive lodge May 28 restoring local governments' authority to make their own mask rules, reversing a movement by Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin to strip such local control in an order she issued while Little was at a conference out of land.
Learn more: Read the Idaho health department's pandemic recommendations.
Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker eliminated the state's order requiring people to mask up in indoor public spaces Feb. 28. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lifted a similar citywide mandate the same day. Masks remain mandatory and in health intendance and long-term intendance facilities and in congregate settings such as shelters and prisons.
Learn more than: Read a news release from the governor'southward role on lifting Illinois' mask guild.
Indiana
The land'south mask mandate became a "mask advisory" April 6, 2021. Face-roofing is required for all people in state-run congregate facilities such as prisons, state hospitals and veterans homes.
Acquire more than: Read the Indiana Section of Health's COVID-nineteen control guidance.
Iowa
Gov. Kim Reynolds lifted the state'south mask order in Feb 2021. The post-obit May, she signed legislation disallowment local governments from compelling businesses to require masks. Iowa City'south indoor mask mandate, which municipal officials said was legal because it was binding on individuals, not businesses, was rescinded March one.
Learn more: Read Iowa'south COVID-19 prevention guidance.
Kansas
Kansas lawmakers revoked the state's mask requirement April 1, 2021, hours after Gov. Laura Kelly issued an executive order intended to extend information technology, under a country law passed the previous month that gave a panel of superlative legislators dominance to overturn the governor's emergency orders. Kansas Metropolis and Wyandotte Canton, which take a unified government, repealed their indoor mask mandate December. sixteen.
Learn more: Read the Kansas health department'due south mask guidance.
Kentucky
Kentucky's general mask mandate ended June eleven, 2021, forth with the state's remaining COVID-19 health restrictions. Masking is encouraged for Kentuckians when they are with people from exterior their household and required for adults in some health care, day care and early on instruction settings.
Learn more: Read the Kentucky Department of Public Health's COVID-19 prevention and handling guidance.
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A eating place sign reminds people to habiliment a mask in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Louisiana
Gov. John Bel Edwards lifted the state'southward general indoor mask guild Oct. 27, 2021, equally a delta-fueled spike in COVID-nineteen cases eased. The mandate, Louisiana'due south 2d of the pandemic, had been in effect since early on Baronial. New Orleans ended its citywide indoor mask mandate March iii.
Learn more: Read Louisiana'due south mask guidance.
Maine
Maine has non had a mandate in place since late May 2021. The state is following the CDC recommendations for masking based on community COVID-19 touch on. Portland lifted its citywide indoor mask order Feb. 17.
Larn more: Read Maine'southward mask FAQs.
Maryland
Gov. Larry Hogan ended Maryland'southward statewide mask mandate forth with all other COVID-19 emergency orders July 1, 2021. The state's 2 largest counties, Montgomery and Prince George'south, lifted indoor mask orders in late Feb, and the city of Baltimore did then March 1.
Learn more: Read the Maryland Section of Commerce's face-roofing FAQs.
Massachusetts
The land'due south general face-covering order was lifted May 29, 2021. Masks are required in wellness care and long-term care facilities, emergency shelters and prisons. Boston and Springfield lifted citywide indoor mask mandates March five and February. 28, respectively.
Learn more:Read Massachusetts' current guidance on face-roofing.
Michigan
Michigan lifted its general mask mandate June 22, 2021, and ended site-specific confront-roofing requirements in wellness care facilities, long-term care facilities, jails and shelters February. 16. The state continues to recommend all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, mask upwardly in such "high-run a risk congregate settings."
Learn more than: Read Michigan's updated mask guidance.
Minnesota
Gov. Tim Walz ended the country's full general mask mandate May xiv, 2021. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends masking "in some settings and situations," in accordance with CDC guidelines. Minneapolis and St. Paul lifted municipal mask orders Feb. 24; Rochester and Duluth did and then before in February.
Larn more: Read the land health department's mask recommendations.
Mississippi
The Mississippi State Department of Health recommends face-roofing in all indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination condition. A statewide social club mandating indoor masking in counties with high COVID-19 instance rates expired in March 2021.
Learn more: Read Mississippi's COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
Missouri
The state Department of Wellness and Senior Services recommends that all people age ii and older mask upwards in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. St. Louis County's indoor mask mandate ended Feb. 28. Kansas Urban center and surrounding Jackson County lifted similar orders in November.
Learn more: Read the Missouri health department'southward COVID-19 prevention guidance.
Montana
Gov. Greg Gianforte rescinded the state's mask mandate Feb. 12, 2021 and signed legislation the following May invalidating local mask mandates, finer ending face-covering orders in Gallatin, Missoula and other counties.
Learn more: Read Montana's mask guidance.
Nebraska
The state Department of Wellness and Human Services recommends people wear face up coverings in public when unable to maintain social distancing. Local indoor mask orders in Omaha and Lincoln were lifted in mid-February.
Learn more: Read the Nebraska health section's COVID-xix protection guidance.
Nevada
Gov. Steve Sisolak announced an immediate stop to the country's mask mandate Feb. 10, citing a "rapid decline in case numbers" and greater availability of COVID-19 tests and treatments. Earlier that, Nevadans over historic period 9 were required to mask up in indoor public places, regardless of their vaccination condition, in counties that met the CDC criteria for high or substantial rates of COVID-19 manual.
Learn more: Read a press release from the governor'south office on lifting Nevada's mask order.
New Hampshire
Gov. Chris Sununu allowed New Hampshire's the land's mask mandate to expire April xvi, 2021, about six months after it was implemented. The cities of Keene and Nashua lifted mask mandates covering local indoor public facilities on Feb. 17 and Feb. 22, respectively.
Acquire more: Read New Hampshire's COVID-19 public health guidance.
New Jersey
Gov. Phil Murphy lifted New Jersey's general confront-covering guild May 28, 2021. Masking is strongly recommended in crowded indoor settings and required for people over age ii in "loftier-risk areas" such as health care facilities, homeless shelters and prisons. The urban center of Newark lifted its indoor mask mandate March two.
Learn more: Read New Bailiwick of jersey's mask guidelines.
New Mexico
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham lifted the state's indoor mask order Feb. 17, two weeks before the scheduled expiration date. The mandate, which had been in effect since August, required New Mexicans age ii and over to wearable confront coverings in indoor public settings, regardless of their vaccination status, except when eating or drinking. Masking is withal mandatory in "congregate settings" such every bit hospitals, long-term care facilities and detention centers.
Learn more: Read New United mexican states's updated COVID-19 emergency order.
New York
Gov. Kathy Hochul lifted the state's general mask order Feb. ten. Previously, face-covering was required in indoor public places that did not have a vaccine requirement for entry. Masking remains mandatory in "high-density settings" such as health care facilities, nursing homes, detention centers, and homeless and domestic violence shelters. In New York Metropolis, masks are required on public transit and in taxis and rideshare vehicles, by club of local authorities.
Acquire more: Read New York'south updated COVID-xix health guidelines.
North Carolina
Gov. Roy Cooper concluded the state'south general mask mandate May fourteen, 2021. Face up-covering is still required statewide for people age 5 and over in hospitals and long-term intendance facilities. The urban center of Raleigh, Wake Canton and Mecklenburg County (which includes Charlotte) lifted local indoor mask mandates in tardily February, and Durham County dropped its mask order March vii.
Acquire more: Read North Carolina's face up-covering guidance.
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North Dakota
The North Dakota Department of Health recommends residents follow CDC masking guidance. There has been no statewide mandate since Jan. 18, 2021.
Larn more: Read the state wellness department's mask guidance.
Ohio
The state'south mask order expired June 2, 2021, as the Ohio Department of Health lifted most other pandemic health orders. Columbus, the state'southward capital and largest city, ended its indoor mask mandate March seven.
Learn more: Read Ohio's mask and social distancing guidance.
Oklahoma
Gov. Kevin Stitt called on Oklahomans to wearable masks in public but rejected calls for a state mandate. Local mask mandates in the state's largest cities, Oklahoma Urban center and Tulsa, ended Apr thirty and May 1, 2021, respectively.
Larn more than: Read the Oklahoma health department's COVID-19 guidance.
Oregon
Gov. Kate Brown lifted the country's mask mandate March 12. The Oregon Health Authority recommends face-roofing in indoor public settings for people who are unvaccinated or at higher risk for severe cases of COVID-19 due to their age or condition. Masks remain mandatory for people ages 5 and older in country-licensed or -certified wellness care facilities, including long-term intendance facilities.
Learn more: Read Oregon's mask guidance.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania'due south mask mandate was rescinded June 28, 2021. The land Section of Health recommends that Pennsylvanians follow CDC face up-roofing guidelines.
Philadelphia reinstated an indoor mask lodge April 18 equally ascent COVID-nineteen example counts triggered a change in the city's response level, simply the city'due south Section of Public Wellness lifted the mandate April 22, citing a leveling of case numbers and a drib in COVID hospitalizations.
Acquire more: Read the Pennsylvania health department's COVID-xix prevention guidance.
Puerto Rico
Gov. Pedro Pierluisi lifted the territory'southward confront-roofing mandate March 10. The guild, which had been in identify since July 28, required people age 2 and over to mask up in public places indoors, regardless of vaccination condition. Masking is still required in health care and long-term intendance facilities and recommended in indoor settings when the vaccination condition of others present cannot be verified.
Larn more: Read a argument from the governor's office on lifting the mask guild (Spanish).
Rhode Isle
Gov. Dan McKee's mask-or vaccine order expired Feb. 11. The rule, which had been in effect since Dec. 20, mandated masking for all people ages 2 and over at indoor businesses and venues with a capacity of 250 or more and gives smaller public establishments an option to require either face-covering or proof of vaccination. Masking remains mandatory for staff in wellness care settings where people are treated for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infections.
Acquire more: Read Rhode Island'southward mask guidance.
Due south Carolina
Gov. Henry McMaster has encouraged unvaccinated South Carolinians to mask up but did not impose a statewide mandate and issued an executive club May 11, 2021, invalidating existing local face-covering rules in several jurisdictions. Columbia, the state's capital and second-largest city, repealed its mask mandate in November, but surrounding Richland County however requires face up-roofing in indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status, until at to the lowest degree May ane.
Learn more: Read the South Carolina health department'due south mask guidance.
South Dakota
The South Dakota Department of Health recommends "wearing cloth face up coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are hard to maintain, especially in areas of meaning customs-based transmission."
Larn more: Read the land health department'southward COVID-19 information page.
Tennessee
Gov. Bill Lee did non impose a statewide mandate and signed legislation Nov. 12 that severely limits local governments' potency to enact their own mask rules. An indoor mask mandate in Shelby County, home to Memphis, ended Oct. 27.
Acquire more: Read the Tennessee health department'southward mask guidance.
Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the country'south 8-calendar month-old mask mandate March x, 2021. The following May, he issued an executive guild barring local regime bodies, including school districts and public health agencies, from instituting their ain face-roofing mandates.
Learn more: Read a roundup of Texas' mask laws.
Utah
Utah's order requiring masks in nearly public settings ended April 10, 2021, five months after it was issued, under a state law that phased out various COVID-19 public health restrictions. Indoor mask mandates implemented in Salt Lake and Elevation counties Jan. 7 were overturned 2 weeks afterward by the state legislature.
Learn more than: Read Utah's mask guidance.
Vermont
Gov. Phil Scott lifted Vermont's mask mandate and all other COVID-19 restrictions June 15, 2021. Every bit of Feb. 28, masks are not required in schools where at least 80 percent of students are vaccinated.
Larn more: Read the Vermont Department of Health's mask guide.
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Shoppers are required to article of clothing face masks in Arlington, Virginia.
Virginia
And so-Gov. Ralph Northam's order ending statewide COVID-19 restrictions took event May 28, 2021, two weeks after he effectively lifted Virginia's universal mask mandate to align with CDC guidance at the fourth dimension.
Learn more than: Read the Virginia Department of Health'south mask guidance.
Washington
The state'due south indoor mask order concluded March 12, and its mandate for masking at large outdoor events was lifted Feb. eighteen. Face-covering remains mandatory for people historic period 5 and older in wellness care, long-term intendance and correctional facilities.
Acquire more than: Read the state Department of Wellness'south mask guidance.
West Virginia
Gov. Jim Justice signed an executive order June 20, 2021, revoking the state's 11-month-old mask mandate. In its final weeks the directive had covered unvaccinated people age nine and up in indoor public spaces.
Acquire more: Read Westward Virginia's past face-covering orders.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers' mask mandate March 31, 2021. In a iv-3 vote on a case brought by Republican state legislators, the court ruled that Evers, a Democrat, overstepped his say-so by repeatedly extending pandemic-related emergency orders without lawmakers' approving. Indoor mask mandates in Milwaukee and Dane Canton, which includes Madison, expired March i.
Acquire more: Read the Wisconsin wellness section's mask guidance.
Wyoming
Gov. Mark Gordon rescinded the state'due south three-calendar month-onetime mask mandate March 16, 2021. The state health section recommends that residents "consider wearing a well-fitting face mask that covers your nose and oral cavity in indoor public settings."
Learn more than: Read the Wyoming Department of Health'south COVID-19 guidance.
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Source: https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2020/states-mask-mandates-coronavirus.html