Northam Recommends Masks For Vaccinated In Public Indoor Settings

VIRGINIA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday that all Virginians, including residents who have received the COVID-19 vaccination, should consider wearing a mask in public indoor settings where there is an increased risk of transmission.

Northam emphasized that the mask-wearing guidance is only a recommendation, not a requirement.

“We know the vaccines work — since January, over 98 percent of #COVID19 hospitalizations and deaths have been among unvaccinated Virginians,” Northam said in a tweet. “But we are now seeing a rise in cases due to the Delta variant.”

Northam lifted the mask mandate for vaccinated people in Virginia on May 15 in accordance with new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. The governor also lifted all capacity and social distancing COVID-19 restrictions on May 28.

The mask mandate was adjusted in May to reflect CDC's guidance that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask or physically distance in any indoor and outdoor setting, except when required by federal, state or local laws and regulations. CDC says masks should still be worn on public transit, in health care facilities, and in congregate settings.

On Thursday, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser issued an order requiring that masks be required in public indoor settings beginning Saturday, according to The Washington Post. The new requirement in D.C. will apply to vaccinated and unvaccinated people alike over the age of 2.

On Thursday, the Virginia Department of Health reported 1,101 new cases of the coronavirus, the second day in a row that new cases have totaled more than 1,000. The last time the number of positive cases were above 1,000 was in late April.

The VDH reported a seven-day moving average of 808 cases per day for the entire state as of Thursday, a big jump from a month ago when the average number of cases had dropped to a pandemic low of 130 cases per day. The last time Virginia's seven-day moving case average stood at a similar level was in early May.

Northam said that masks are effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19, "but getting vaccinated is the surest way we can bring this pandemic to an end."

Residents can visit the Vaccinate Virginia website to learn how to get a COVID-19 vaccination.