WASHINGTON D.C.—On July 22, Mayor Muriel Bowser read a new Order on mask wearing that exempts city and federal workers. The order states that masks should be worn outside the place of residence. It is the first executive order mandating mask-wearing. In section IV of the order, exceptions are listed in two parts.
In part one, exceptions include a person who is a child under the age of two; exercising at a social distance of six feet; actively eating, drinking, or legally smoking; in a pool; in an enclosed office alone; unable to wear a mask due to a medical issue; or hard of hearing and needs to read the lips of speakers.
“The enforcement provisions of this Order shall not be applied to persons in the judicial or legislative branches of the District government while those persons are on duty; and shall not apply to any employees of the federal government while they are on duty,” reads part two of the order.
Adults can be charged with violating the order, with a maximum fine of $1,000.
After reporting that the infection curve in Washington D.C. flattened earlier this summer, health officials say that infection numbers have been increasing, reaching triple digits for the first time in weeks on July 22. According to Time Magazine, Health Department Director Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt says data indicates a high level of wild community spread, and the percentage of people hospitalized who are under age 40 has nearly doubled in July.
