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Durham and Orange counties dropping mask mandate on March 7

In a statement, Durham officials said despite the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still showing Durham as a high transmission area for coronavirus, key metrics were continuing to trend downward.

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DURHAM, N.C. — Orange and Durham counties will drop their indoor mask mandates on March 7.

In a statement, Durham officials said despite the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continuing to show Durham as a high transmission area for coronavirus, key metrics were trending downward.

"If a new variant arises, it may be possible that we'll need to take more aggressive action, including reinstating the mask mandate," said Durham Public Health Director Rod Jenkins.

However, masks will continue to be required in Durham schools. Last week, the Durham County Board of Education unanimously voted to continue the mandate — making it the largest school district in the state to keep masks mandatory.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will require that students wear face masks indoors until April 4, school leaders decided on Thursday. Students will be able to drop the masks starting on March 7 in all outdoor spaces.

Across the Triangle, Wake County ended its mask mandate on Friday. Masks are also no longer required in Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Raleigh, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon.

During a Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday night, Orange County Chair Renee Price said all of the county's key COVID-19 metrics were below the CDC's guidance to lift mask mandates.

Last Friday, the CDC updated guidance for places where COVID-19 was beginning to ease its grip. The new guidance put more than 70 percent of the U.S. population in counties where the virus is "posing a low or medium threat to hospitals."

But, in counties where the risk of COVID-19 was still high, people were advised to continue wearing a mask — including children.

The new CDC guidance did not change requirements to wear a mask on public transportation and indoors in airports, train stations and bus stations.

"The CDC guidelines for other indoor spaces aren't binding, meaning cities and institutions even in areas of low risk may set their own rules," the Associated Press reported.

"Although the mandate will be lifted, it's still OK to wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable in public settings," said Durham Mayor Elaine O'Neal. "This move simply allows people to make their own choice. Dealing with this pandemic has been hard for everyone. Now's the time to be kind to each other."

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