The Denton City Council voted on March 1 to remove all universal masking requirements in the city. The new order rescinding the mask mandate became effective immediately.
According to a statement by the Denton City Council, authorities made the decision following updated guidance and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding COVID-19.
“From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Council relied on the guidance of the local, state, and national health officials, including the CDC,” the city said in a statement.
The CDC updated its guidelines on February 25, easing its recommendations for the use of masks indoors. Its new COVID-19 guidelines now focus on a community’s hospitalizations, dedicated inpatient beds, and case numbers for the virus.
According to the city’s statement, Denton County currently falls in the “medium” risk category based on the latest CDC guidelines, and “in this category, the universal indoor use of masks is not recommended.”
The new CDC guidelines state indoor masks are recommended only for those who reside in counties that fall under the “high” risk category, per the statement.
Denton City Council members enacted the city’s mask mandates beginning with the Thirteenth Order of Council adopted on August 12, 2021. The council said it decided to require masks in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Denton, according to the statement.
The city added that community members are encouraged to help curb the spread of COVID-19 by following recommendations from their healthcare provider and the CDC.