Baltimore County To Lift Indoor Mask Mandate

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Baltimore County has announced plans to lift its indoor mask requirement for county buildings and facilities as well as end required COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated employees, effective Feb. 28.

“As we approach the two-year mark of this pandemic, we are actively working to responsibly provide as much normalcy as possible for our employees and residents,” Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said in a news release. “The numbers are trending in the right direction and I am glad to be in a position to take these next steps in Baltimore County.”

According to Baltimore County officials, since early January, the county's average COVID-19 positivity rate has decreased by nearly 89 percent. The county's average case rate has decreased by 95 percent, and the average number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has decreased by about 77 percent.

Approximately 78 percent of county residents ages five and up are either fully or partially vaccinated, the county said.

Last fall, Baltimore County implemented weekly testing requirements for employees who did not report their vaccination status. The final day of required employee testing for these employees will be Friday, Feb.25.

While the mask requirement for county buildings will be lifted effective on the last day of the month, unvaccinated employees and visitors are encouraged to continue wearing masks.

Baltimore County’s most recent state of emergency and countywide indoor mask requirement expired earlier this month.

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