Mayor Bowser signed a new order on masks: Order 2020-080 Wearing of Masks in the District of Columbia To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19.
The order on masks “consolidates, clarifies, and extends requirements related to wearing masks indoors and outdoors in the District of Columbia and provides enforcement mechanisms for these requirements."
The order requires the following:
- “Persons must wear a mask in the common areas of apartments, condominiums and cooperatives”
- Anyone leaving their residence must wear a mask when likely to come within six feet of another person “for more than a fleeting time”
- Anyone driving or riding in a taxi or other form of public transportation must wear a mask.
- Businesses/office buildings/establishments open to the public must post signage on exterior doors stating “a person may not enter unless the person is wearing a mask” and anyone who tries to enter without a mask or removes their mask will be ejected.
- “Employers shall provide masks to their employees.”
Exceptions: The following are exceptions the requirement to wear a mask:
- You are a resident/guest in a private dwelling
- When eating, drinking, smoking
- No mask required if someone can’t wear a mask because of a medical condition or disability, or someone is physically unable to remove a mask.
- No mask required if “a deaf or hard of hearing person needs to read the lips of a speaker.”
- When exercising vigorously outdoors and social distancing (6 feet minimum)
- When you are in an enclosed office alone that no one else is allowed to enter.