City of Grand Rapids Workers Required to Mask Up Again Indoors

With the recent increase in COVID-19 cases and the rise in prevalence of the Delta variant,  the City of Grand Rapids is again requiring employees to wear masks indoors.

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City Manager Mark Washington signed an administrative order requiring employee masking in the workplace beginning Wednesday, where work is indoors and maintenance of six feet of distancing is not possible. This requirement is for both vaccinated and unvaccinated employees.

Community members attending meetings or visiting City buildings are also asked towear masks. The City will provide masks, if needed. In addition, City of Grand Rapids employees may request that a person wear a mask when receiving service or ask an unmasked person to move to an appropriate space where distancing is possible.

Washington said in a release,

Data indicates that well over 90 percent of recent COVID-19 cases that require hospitalization are among those who have not been vaccinated. Our primary concern is with the health and safety of our employees and those we serve. We continue to encourage vaccination among the workforce as the single best protective measure to ensure this is possible.

The order will remain place through October 14 or until such time that Kent County is no longer classified in the "substantial" risk category or higher by the Centers for Disease Control.

On Monday of this week, the CDC raised the risk level of COVID-19 infection to "substantial" in Kent County. The CDC recommends that anyone in a substantial to high risk area wear a face mask in indoor public places, regardless of vaccination status.