City of Rockville Now Requires Face Masks Inside City Buildings

The City of Rockville announced Tuesday that face coverings are mandatory for all visitors to Rockville facilities. According to a news release, the new requirement applies to all staff and visitors aged two and older regardless of their vaccination status.

Rockville City Manager Rob DiSpirito announced the policy “out of an abundance of caution for health, safety and better peace of mind for all.”

Rockville’s boards and commissions will continue to meet remotely, as will the Mayor and Council. No date has been set for the reopening of City Hall. Many city facilities, such as community centers, the Rockville Swim and Fitness Center, the senior center and Civic Center Park, are open. Check the city’s website for hours and availability. Face-covering requirements will be in place at those facilities.

Concerns have been growing communitywide about the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19, a highly contagious form of the virus. At 2 p.m. Thursday, the Montgomery County Council is scheduled to introduce, hold a virtual public hearing and vote on regulations consistent with new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and would require face coverings in public indoor areas if and when the county reaches “substantial” COVID-19 transmission.

Delta cases have begun appearing in Montgomery County, slightly increasing the infection rate, according to the county’s latest information on COVID-19.

“Despite the high rate of vaccination in Montgomery County, there are still many adults and adolescents who have not been vaccinated,” the county states. “In addition, children under the age of 12 are too young to be vaccinated. This can create a risk for a new rise in infections, particularly with the new variants, including the Delta variant.”

The variant currently accounts for more than one in every five COVID-19 cases in the U.S., the county states.

The city encourages everyone to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Information about testing and vaccinations can be found on Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Information portal at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19.

To learn more about how to get a vaccination, go to www.GoVaxMoco.com.

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