Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties in Maryland are lifting their mask mandates in the wake of improving COVID-19 metrics.
The Anne Arundel County Health Department that its indoor mask requirement expired Monday, Jan. 31, while Baltimore County鈥檚 government its mandate would end Tuesday, Feb. 1. Baltimore will also lift its state of emergency on Feb. 7.
“We are strongly encouraged by the progress we鈥檝e seen in recent days and remain cautiously optimistic that we will continue to emerge from this omicron wave,鈥� Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski聽said in a news release. 鈥淢oving forward, we will continue to closely monitor key metrics and remain聽prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to protect public health.鈥�
Baltimore officials said that since Jan. 3, the county鈥檚 positivity rate has decreased by nearly 80%, while COVID-19 hospitalizations have fallen by nearly 50% since Jan. 11.
Anne Arundel County health officials said their county, too, has seen a significant drop in cases. The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals in the county is now less than 100, the first time it鈥檚 been that low since Dec. 19, 2021.
鈥淭hrough consistent prevention and timely, and time-limited, responses to surges, we can continue to protect our residents from COVID while keeping our schools, businesses, and hospitals open and healthy,鈥� Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman said in a news release.
The Anne Arundel County Department of Health said it will continue to recommend masking and encourage vaccination and testing, 鈥渨hile we advance treatment efforts, namely the newly available oral medications for COVID.鈥�
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