Masks now optional in all Triangle counties, though some schools still require them
As of Monday, March 7, mask mandates no longer are in effect in Triangle municipalities, though they are still required in a few school districts.
The following municipalities ended their mask requirements Monday: Durham County, City of Durham, Orange County, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough.
Wake County, the City of Raleigh and several other Wake County municipalities (Garner, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville and Zebulon) dropped their mask requirements on Feb. 25.
As COVID-19 cases have leveled off and more people get vaccinated, Gov. Roy Cooper urged school districts, cities and counties to ease their mask requirements by March 7.
Also March 7, North Carolina state agencies made them optional for employees and visitors. In addition to traditional offices, that includes facilities run by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, The News & Observer reported. That includes the North Carolina Zoo, the N.C. Museum of History, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, state aquariums and the State Capitol Historic site, among other sites.
In all instances, businesses may still require masks for employees and customers.
North Carolina reported 528 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the lowest it has been since July 13, when the state recorded 540 new cases. Monday’s data reflects cases reported since Friday.
Since last summer, there have been two major waves of cases due to COVID-19 variants — first delta, then omicron.
At the height of the omicron variant surge, North Carolina was reporting record case loads daily, peaking with over 44,000 cases on Jan. 13. Some experts said that number wasn’t the best way to assess the effects of the pandemic, as it did not include tests done at home.
Looking at hospitalizations, North Carolina had a record number of people in the hospital due COVID-19 on Jan. 27, with 5,201 people. That number has gradually decreased in the past month, with 1,140 people in the hospital, as of Sunday.
Which Triangle school districts require masks?
In Triangle school districts, Wake County Public Schools dropped their mask requirement for the first time in two years, making them optional for students, teachers, visitors and staff. The N.C. Department of Public Instruction still recommends them as a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Chatham County also made them optional on Monday.
Durham Public Schools is still requiring them and has not said when they could be optional, The N&O reported.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public Schools is requiring masks indoors through April 4 but ended the requirement for outdoor wearing on Monday.
The Orange County School Board is expected to make a decision Monday.
Johnston County schools made masks optional on Feb. 17.