White House to keep mask mandate as Washington, D.C. lifts indoor masking rule

WASHINGTON - The White House will keep its mask mandate in place on its grounds even as the indoor masking rule for most public spaces in Washington, D.C. was lifted starting on Monday.

"The White House follows CDC guidance, which recommends masking in areas of high or substantial transmission," Kevin Munoz, White House assistant press secretary, told CNN.

The nation's capital remains an area with "substantial" community transmission, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is currently at a rate of about 90 new weekly cases per 100,000 residents.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced her decision to drop the mandate last week but stressed wearing masks is still important. The focus has shifted from a blanket mandate to following risk-based guidance from DC Health that accounts for current health metrics and a person's vaccination status, according to the city.