There's a new indoor mask mandate for Guilford County, North Carolina, after a county commission vote Thursday evening. In New Hanover County, the Health and Human Services Board will meet in Wilmington next week to discuss reinstating indoor face mask rules there.

Coronavirus case rates across North Carolina are higher than they've ever been. The omicron variant is fueling a new winter spike in cases across the country.

“This Board of Health rule is necessary to safeguard our residents, visitors, and local businesses as well as protect our local health partners and county Emergency Management resources,” Guilford County Commission Chair Melvin Alston said in a statement.

What You Need To Know

  • Guilford County commissioners voted Thursday to reinstate the indoor mask mandate. It went into effect at 6:30 p.m. Thursday

  • New Hanover County could vote Tuesday on a new mask mandate there

  • Both counties dropped the mask mandates as case numbers improved in the fall

  • COVID case numbers continue to climb in North Carolina, fueled by the fast-spreading omicron variant

“While no one can clearly predict how this situation will continue to evolve, what we do know for sure is that the continued exponential increase in COVID-19 positives is unacceptable and we must act now to mitigate its effect; we simply cannot stand idly by while our residents continue to die."

Commission members in Guilford County met for a virtual meeting Thursday afternoon and voted to reinstate the mask rules for public indoor spaces like grocery stores, gyms and all schools and universities. There is a separate mask requirement for public schools.

The new mask mandate began in Guilford County, including Greensboro and the surrounding areas, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

"I am confident about our emergency preparedness plans, our staff, and the fact that our community stakeholders are doing their best to protect our residents. It is always the right time to do the right thing. Regardless of your vaccination status, we know that wearing masks helps prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus and we know it saves lives," Alston said.

 

In Wilmington, case numbers are also spiking.

“The Omicron variant, which CDC now estimates to be 99% of cases across the Southeastern region, is spreading very rapidly in our area causing serious disruptions to healthcare, schools and businesses," New Hanover County Public Health Director David Howard said in a statement Thursday.

The New Hanover County Health and Human Services Board will meet at 8 a.m. Tuesday to consider a new indoor mask mandate.

Both Guilford and New Hanover counties ended their local mask rules as case numbers improved in the fall.

Many urban counties in North Carolina continue to require masks indoors, including Wake, Durham and Mecklenburg counties. There is no statewide mask mandate, with the governor last summer saying he would rather leave mask rules up to local leaders.

Most school systems in the state require students and staff to wear face masks while indoors.