The mayor of Washington, DC, declared a state of emergency Monday amid a record number of new local COVID infections — triggering mask and booster-shot mandates.
DC’s indoor mask mandate will go into effect at 6 a.m. Tuesday and continue at least through Jan. 31, said Mayor Muriel Bowser.
All government workers in DC will need to have a booster shot, too, losing the option to test out of the mandate under the emergency step.
“All employees, contractors, interns, and grantees of DC Government must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and must have a booster,” Bowser tweeted.
The tighter restrictions come after DC reported two consecutive days of record-breaking new infections late last week, rising to 844 new cases Friday — the highest number recorded at any point during the pandemic.
The Bowser administration also is extending DC public schools’ upcoming winter break by two days to allow for the testing of all pupils and teachers after the holidays.
So rather than returning to school Monday, Jan. 3, schools will reopen on Wednesday, Jan. 5.
“Staff and families will use those days to pick up rapid antigen tests,” Bowser tweeted.
“Every school will receive enough rapid tests for every student, teacher and staff member.”
After using a rapid at-home test, DC residents must report their results to DC Health online.
The DC government has expanded its testing efforts, including ordering more than a million rapid antigen tests to distribute.
