Many of the mask mandates in Maryland expired on January 31.

Several counties in Maryland have announced the end of mask mandates starting in February. Now that hospitalization and daily case rates have fallen, officials felt it was time to let indoor mask mandates expire.

After reinstating the mask mandate on January 7, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman allowed the mandate to expire on January 31.

Baltimore County hospitalization rates are 50% lower than they were two weeks ago. County Executive Johnny Olszewski dropped the mask mandate but is encouraging residents to continue to get vaccinated.

"We are strongly encouraged by the progress we’ve seen in recent days and remain cautiously optimistic that we will continue to emerge from this omicron wave," Olszewski said. "We know that the best way to continue our progress is for every resident to protect themselves, their loved ones, and our community by getting vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible."

Then, on February 1, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball followed suit and also allowed the mask mandate to expire.

In neighboring Montgomery County, officials went in the opposite direction, extending the mask mandate until February 21. Several schools in Montgomery County were forced to go virtual in the month of January due to staff shortages caused by omicron.

Schools in Howard, Anne Arundel, and Baltimore counties will still require masking inside all school buildings and facilities. Individual businesses still have the authority to require masks.

The federal government is in the process of sending free COVID-19 tests directly to American homes. The government has also pledged to make more than 400 million N95 masks available for free at pharmacies and local health departments around the country.