Maria Caspani

(Reuters] – Washington, D.C. no longer requires people to show proof that they have received COVID-19 immunization in order to gain entry into businesses starting on Tuesday, said its mayor. This joins a slew local leaders, who are trying to ease pandemic restrictions, as the Omicron waves ebbs.

On Monday, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that masks will not be required in indoor spaces – such as bars, restaurants, and churches – beginning March 1.

Masks are still required for schools, libraries and nursing homes.

Bowser explained that the dramatic decline in COVID-19 patients and hospitalizations over the past weeks prompted Bowser’s decision to reduce some of the December emergency measures.

The mayor stated that “What we do know is that we must be flexible if anything should change,” he said at a press conference.

Maryland’s Governor Larry Hogan announced Monday that there will be no more state buildings that require face and mask coverings.

Hogan also demanded that the board of education in New Jersey repeal its policy on school masks.

Last week, New York’s governors and Massachusetts’s governors announced that they would eliminate certain mask mandates within their respective states. This follows similar steps by Oregon, California, Connecticut.

While President Joe Biden said that dropping the mask requirement may be premature, he suggested that it might not hurt to ease those restrictions for children as they get more vaccinated.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walsky stated last week to Reuters, that they were sticking with their guidance for universal school masking given the high number of COVID cases.