New Mayoral Order Requires People To Wear Masks Outside The Home

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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday signed a new order requiring people to wear masks in most circumstances while in public. The edict will stay in effect until at least Oct. 9, the date to which Bowser extended the District’s official public health emergency via a separate executive order she also issued Wednesday.

The mask order says “persons leaving their residences shall wear a mask when they are likely to come into contact with another person, such as being within six feet of another person for more than a fleeting time.” Additionally, it requires operators and passengers of taxis, ride-hailing vehicles, buses, Metro, and other forms of shared transportation to wear masks at all times.

The order carves out exceptions for people who are in the middle of eating, drinking, or smoking; doing “vigorous outdoor exercise” while maintaining distance from others; are alone in enclosed offices; are younger than 2 years old; need their lips to be read by those who are deaf or hard of hearing; or are unable to wear masks due to medical conditions. Workers whose jobs force them to use equipment that precludes mask-wearing are also exempted.