Where Face Coverings / Masks Will and Will Not be Required in MOCO

Where Face Coverings / Masks Will and Will Not be Required in MOCO

Montgomery County has updated their FAQ about face mask requirements.

Below you will see the updated guidelines per Montgomery County courtesy of https://buff.ly/2VtTPuV

Face coverings must be worn

• Effective August 7 at 12:01 a.m. – by all persons in the County over the age of two years old when indoors at any location accessible to the public – Montgomery County Board of Health Regulation.
• by everyone indoors in Montgomery College facilities – Montgomery College requirement.
• by all visitors over the age of two, and all staff members, in City of Gaithersburg facilities – City of Gaithersburg requirement.
• by all visitors over the age of two, and all staff members, in City of Rockville facilities – City of Rockville requirement.
• this fall, by all students, staff, and visitors in Montgomery County Public School buildings – Montgomery County Public Schools requirement.
• by everyone indoors in buildings owned and operated by the State of Maryland such as MVA offices, mission testing sites or child support offices
• when using public transportation – federal government requirement.

A face covering is not required

A face covering is not required when you are:

• eating or drinking
• receiving dental services, shaving, or facial treatments or receiving another service requiring access to your face, mouth, head
• swimming or engaged in another physical activity where the use of a face covering would pose a bona fide safety risk
• unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition or disability
• unable to wear a wearing a face covering because it impedes communication by, or with, persons who have a hearing impairment or other disability, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication
• unable to wear a face covering because it would create unsafe working conditions
• operating any public transportation conveyance, if you are
  • the sole operator of the conveyance, and
  • located in a separate compartment that is off-limits to riders
• required to show your entire face to verify your identity for bona fide security purposes
• giving a speech or performing for broadcast or an audience, if no one in a location accessible to the public is within six feet of you
• in a business and workplace that is not accessible to the public
  • Such businesses and workplaces can set their own face covering policies.
  • if a private business shares building lobby space or elevators, face coverings must be worn in the “common area”.

Face coverings should fit properly

A face covering is fitted properly when it covers your nose, mouth, and chin.

It includes cloth face coverings, scarves, and bandanas. It does not include face coverings with a valve; or solely wearing a face shield.

Time period for indoor face covering requirement

Montgomery County’s indoor face covering requirement was reinstated because the County reached “substantial transmission” level. It will end when the County returns to a  “moderate transmission” status for 7 consecutive days. See the County’s COVID-19 data.

Businesses and workplaces can set face covering policies

Businesses and workplaces that are closed to the public can set their own face covering policies, just as they can set a dress code for staff.