As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge, county governments have taken action to help stop the spread of the virus.

Anne Arundel County

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced an emergency countywide mask mandate for all indoor public locations starting on December 31st. The mandate will expire on January 7th, unless the County Council votes for an extension. “It takes five votes on the County Council to extend this mandate beyond seven days, and we have support from at least four,” County Executive Pittman said.

From the Anne Arundel County Council press release:

“Our hospitals are implementing crisis standards of care because they’re taking care of the highest number of Covid patients since the pandemic began. Masks are critical in slowing the spread of Omicron and this order will ensure that everybody is following the same steps to decrease the spread,” Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman said.

The executive order, found here, mandates all public facilities – retail shops, gyms, houses of worship, restaurants (except while dining) and other locations ﹘ require patrons, guests, and staff to wear face coverings while indoors. The order goes into effect at 12:00pm on Dec. 31, and will expire at 12:00pm on Jan. 7, pending Council action.

For more information on Anne Arundel County: WBAL NewsRadio; CBS Baltimore

Baltimore City

The mask mandate from August 10th is still in effect and individuals aged two and older are required to wear a mask when they are:

  • In or on any Public Transportation or School Bus;
  • Indoors at any location other than a private home, including
    without limitation, Religious Facilities, Retail Establishments, Foodservice Establishments, Fitness Centers, Gaming Facilities, the Indoor Areas of Racing Facilities, Indoor Recreation Establishments, Personal Services Establishments, and Indoor Venues;
  • Obtaining healthcare services, including without limitation, in offices of physicians and dentists, hospitals, pharmacies, and laboratories;
  • Engaged in work in any area where:
    • Interaction with others is likely, including without limitation, in shared areas of commercial offices; or
    • Food is prepared or packaged; and
  • Indoors in any portion of a School where interaction with others is likely, including without limitation, classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, auditoriums, and gymnasiums.

For more information on Baltimore City: FAQs About COVID-19 Executive Orders

Baltimore County

Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski Jr. declared a local State of Emergency that was approved by the County Council on Monday. Under this new State of Emergency, County Executive Olszewski announced a new public health order requiring all individuals ages five and over to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces in Baltimore County.

From County Executive Olszewski’s press release:

Individuals will not be required to wear a mask if:

  • Eating or drinking while seated at food service establishments. Face coverings are still required when otherwise moving in or about a restaurant or bar premises.
  • A face covering cannot be worn due to a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability.
  • Wearing a face covering would subject the person to an unsafe working condition.
  • Wearing a face covering would make it impossible to receive certain services, including dental care, shaving, and facial treatments.
  • Swimming or engaging in other physical activities
  • Operating any public transportation conveyance, provided that the person is the sole operator of the conveyance, and located in a separate compartment that is off-limits to riders.

This requirement is set to expire on January 31, 2022.

Along with the mask mandate, “County Executive Olszewski will allocate American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding and use emergency procurement authority under the declaration to secure 100,000 additional rapid at-home test kits to make available free to county residents. In addition, Olszewski has directed the Baltimore County Department of Health to expand testing options by establishing an additional large-scale COVID-19 testing clinic.”

For more information on Baltimore County: Baltimore Sun

Carroll County

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners voted to follow Governor Hogan’s updated COVID-19 guidelines during a special Open Session held on January 4th.

From the Carroll County Government press release:

Effective immediately, the following guidelines are in place for Carroll County Government

• Face coverings will be required for all employees and visitors in all county buildings and facilities.
• To encourage more booster shots, the county will provide two hours of paid leave for any employee who provides proof of full vaccination status and/or receipt of a booster shot (per CDC guidelines). This is available retroactively.
• Adopting new CDC guidance on quarantine protocols to continue serving Carroll County residents.
The Commissioners also decided to make all county Board and Commission meetings virtual for 30 days, starting on January 6th. “As we have done since the beginning of the pandemic, we believe Governor Hogan and his team have the best available information and we will continue to follow the state guidance,“ said Commissioner Ed Rothstein. “It looks like the next four to six weeks are going to be very challenging for our community and I want to encourage all Carroll Countians to put safety first and get vaccinated and follow other COVDID-19 safety protocols.”

For more information on Carroll County: Baltimore Sun (Subscription required); CBS Baltimore

Charles County

The Charles County Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on Face Coverings January 4th at 4:30 p.m. The meeting was originally scheduled for January 12th but the Board decided to move it up after Charles County Health Officer Dr. Dianna E. Abney shared updated COVID-19 statistics. “She stated that wearing a face covering is an important mitigation effort to protect the health, welfare, and safety of all residents and recommended that Commissioners act urgently on this issue.”

From the Charles County Board of Commissioners news release:

This Board of Commissioners will sit as the Board of Health and consider this ordinance as emergency legislation. No substantive changes have been made to the language of this ordinance since it was announced. Following the hearing, the Board of Commissioners will vote on the ordinance and must have a supermajority vote of 4-1 or unanimous vote to adopt it. If adopted, the ordinance will become effective immediately and expire in 45 days, unless extended by the Board of Commissioners.

To decrease the spread of COVID-19, Dr. Abney also made the following recommendations:

Individuals:

  • Do not congregate
  • Smaller gatherings (outdoor events when possible)
  • Postpone or cancel large events

Businesses:

  • Require patrons to wear masks
  • Provide masks for patrons who do not have one
  • Have employees wear masks correctly and consistently to model best practices
  • Allow remote work
  • Ensure sick employees can stay home (when possible)

Frederick County

Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner issued an executive order declaring a State of Emergency on December 30th that will be in effect for 30 days. The Board of Health approved a mask mandate last week that requires everyone ages five and older to wear a face covering in all indoor public spaces where people cannot maintain at least six feet of distance from one another.

For more information on Frederick County: CBS Baltimore

Harford County

Harford County is requiring masks for visitors in county buildings and for county government employees who interact with the public starting on January 4th at 9 a.m. until further notice.

From a letter by County Executive Barry Glassman:

Harford County businesses continue to have the option of requiring masks in their facilities. Citizens are encouraged to manage their risk by following best practices, which include wearing masks and social distancing in crowded indoor settings. Citizens are also encouraged to get the vaccine and the booster if they are eligible as one of the best ways to avoid serious illness and hospitalization.

For more information on Harford County: County Executive Press Release

Howard County

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball signed an executive order requiring masks be worn indoors in all businesses and facilities open to the public, as well as public transportation, that took effect on December 26th.

From County Executive Ball’s press release:

With the rapidly multiplying number of COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron and Delta variants, positivity rates in double digits, and increases in hospitalization, this is a necessary step to further protect our residents. Being vaccinated, getting a booster, and wearing a mask are the three best ways to protect yourself and those around you.

For more information on Howard County: Baltimore Sun (Subscription Required); WTOP News

Montgomery County

The Montgomery County Council voted to extend their mask mandate, initially enacted on November 20th, until January 31st. According to Bethesda Magazine, “[the mandate] was set to be lifted when 85% of the county’s population was fully vaccinated against the coronavirus — a standard the county is close to reaching.”

As reported by Bethesda Magazine:

[The mandate] includes:

  • Removing the trigger to end the mandate when 85% of the county’s population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 data tracker. As of Wednesday morning, that metric was at 83.3%.
  • Removing the trigger to end the mandate once the county enters seven days of “moderate transmission,” as defined by the CDC. Moderate transmission is 10 to 49.99 cases per 100,000 residents, over a seven-day period
  • Keeping the indoor mandate in place until the Board of Health takes further action, and requiring the body to meet every two weeks to review the mandate
  • Eliminating language that required the county executive’s office to provide regular updates on a proposed vaccination mandate for county employees

Council Member Andrew Friedson proposed an amendment that set a new date for the automatic end of the mask mandate: Jan. 31, 2022. If nothing changes by then, the mask mandate would end at 11:59 p.m. on that date.

For more information on Montgomery County: COVID-19 Information Portal; WJLA News; WTOP News

Prince George’s County

In November, Prince George’s County officials extended their mask mandate until January 23rd. The mask resolution was originally set to expire on December 9th but the Council unanimously voted to extend the mandate. All individuals over the age of two are required to wear face coverings while indoors at public spaces.

For more information on Prince George’s County: NBC Washington News; County Phased Reopening Page