Mask Mandate To Be Lifted Next Week At Washington Co. Buildings

WASHINGTON COUNTY, MN — Washington County officials are set to lift a mask mandate next week at most county-run buildings.

Masks will no longer be required for employees or visitors at Washington County buildings starting Monday, Feb. 28, County Administrator Kevin Corbid said in an email to staff.

The mandate is being lifted because COVID-19 cases in the county are declining and “many organizations in our community are taking similar actions,” Corbid wrote.

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He also noted more than 83 percent of county employees are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

“We support and respect an individual’s choice to continue wearing (a mask),” Corbid said.

The South Washington County Schools and Stillwater Area Public Schools systems recently lifted their mask mandates after a significant drop in COVID-19 cases since January.

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Masks will still be required within the Washington County Jail in Stillwater and some clinic settings, Corbid said.

Washington County officials will continue to monitor COVID-19 metrics and “adjust our guidance if appropriate,” Corbid said.

Though the county is dropping its mask requirement, Corbid emphasized to employees that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “continues to recommend masks be worn indoors in public areas.”

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CDC statistics show there is a high level of community transmission of the coronavirus in Washington County, though new cases are down about 65 percent over the past week.

There have been more than 65,500 total COVID-19 cases among Washington County residents since the start of the coronavirus pandemic almost two years ago, and 466 residents have died from coronavirus-related conditions, according to the CDC.