Mask Mandate Expands To Younger Kids, Booster Shots Available In Prince George's County

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks on Wednesday announced that residents aged 2 to up must now wear masks in indoor public places. The previous mandate only applied to locals older than 5. The change took effect immediately.

Alsobrooks additionally announced her plan for coronavirus booster shots. She also noted that the county is finalizing its tally of immunized employees.

“From the outset of this pandemic, we have been focused on policies that support the health and safety of our residents, while also ensuring residents and businesses have the resources they need to get by,” Alsobrooks said in a press release. “We want to thank Prince Georgians for working together through this pandemic, because we have shown that we are a strong and resilient community where residents can always count on one another.”

Mask Mandate

Locals don't have to use face coverings when they or eating or drinking. Prince Georgians with disabilities that prevent them from donning a mask also don't have to wear one.

Booster Shots

These residents who got a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are now eligible for a booster shot through the Prince George's County Health Department:

• Those who are 65 and older
• Those ages 18 and older with underlying medical conditions
• Those ages 18 and older who work or live in settings that increase their risk of coronavirus exposure (These locations include health care facilities, schools, grocery stores, correctional institutions and homeless shelters)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised those groups to schedule their third dose at least six months after their second injection.

Booster shots are not yet available for those populations if they got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson inoculations.

Anybody who is moderately or severely immunocompromised and got a Pfizer or Moderna immunization is eligible for a third dose. These people should get the extra shot at least 28 days after their second vaccine.

Federal officials have not yet approved a Johnson & Johnson booster shot for Americans who are immunocompromised.

Inoculation clinics are listed at mypgc.us/COVIDVaccine. Patients do not need to show proof of eligibility to get the additional dose.

The full CDC booster shot guidance is posted here.

County Employee Vaccination Policy

The Prince George's County government employee vaccination count is nearing completion. Alsobrooks on Aug. 18 ordered workers to get the immunization or face weekly testing.

The county executive told staffers to submit their status by Oct. 3. Early numbers suggest about 64 percent are inoculated.

Prince George's is analyzing these data and weighing different coronavirus precautions. The county is considering giving incentives to vaccinated employees.

The Prince George's County Department of Corrections already requires weekly tests for workers who are not immunized. Leaders think this keeps staffers and inmates safe in their congregate living settings.

Alsobrooks clarified that she will give another update when the policies are finalized.

Health Metrics

More than 82 percent of Prince George's County adults have gotten at least one dose. About 72 percent of eligible locals 12 and older are fully inoculated.

The positivity rate hovers around 3.3 percent. The percent positivity fell below 4 last week for the first time since late July.

Prince George's averages 12.2 new cases per day per 100,000 residents. The infection rate is about 0.93.

Case totals are available here. Vaccine numbers are viewable at this link.

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RELATED:

• Student-Athletes Need Vaccines Or Tests In Prince George's County
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• Shots Or Tests Required For All Prince George's Schools Staff
• Masks Required Again In Prince George's; Delta Variant Spreads
• Masks Required For Prince George's Co. Public Schools This Fall

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