Mask Update: March 1

Mask Update

The District of Columbia and Prince George’s County have now lifted their mask mandates for most indoor settings. Thus, beginning March 1, masks will no longer be required in any indoor setting in any area jurisdiction, with the exception of schools and childcare facilities in the District of Columbia, as well as other venues there unrelated to parish functions.

The CDC has also issued new advisory guidelines, which now classify the COVID-19 Community Level for the District and for Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s Counties as low. The CDC recommendation for these areas is: “Wear a mask based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk.”

The use of masks by ordinary and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion will continue to be optional and no longer required during the distribution in all jurisdictions of the archdiocese. This decision was made due to the plummeting case loads as well as the high vaccination rates. However, in making their decisions on masking for distribution of Holy Communion, pastors should be sensitive to the needs of the parishioners, deacons, and other ministers to understand that some recipients of Holy Communion may feel more comfortable if ministers wear a mask during distribution.