Cecil County MD will not require masks in government offices after Gov. Larry Hogan rejected a statewide mandate.
Hogan said a mandate would not end the threat of the disease.
Not all Maryland counties are over the high case threshold cited in a recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC recommends residents in counties with high case numbers wear masks indoors.
Neighboring Delaware, by contrast, is requiring masks in schools and at state offices. All three counties in Delaware are in the high case rate zone cited by the CDC. Cecil is also listed as a high number of cases by the CDC.
Maryland will require state employees in higher-risk settings to show proof of vaccinations or wear masks beginning in September.
Cecil County Executive Danielle Hornberger issued the following statement on mask mandate that also urged schools to not mandate masks.
I trust that Cecil County residents know what is best for themselves and their families. With an effective Covid-19 vaccine widely available, the decision of whether to wear a mask should be a personal decision.
Cecil County Government will not institute any mask mandate; however, we support the choice to wear a mask and encourage residents to talk with their families and their doctor and decide what is best for them. The County will continue to follow the State of Maryland’s lead and message that getting vaccinated is the best and most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones.
I strongly urge other Cecil County institutions, including the school system, to take a similar approach in allowing individuals to decide what precautions work best for them.
Please know there has been a dramatic increase in the Covid-19 Delta Variant in Cecil County. The best way to protect yourself, especially if you are at high risk, is to get vaccinated. Other precautions include social distancing, hand washing, and wearing an N95 mask.
