For the first time since its in-person meetings resumed, the March gathering of the Arlington County Democratic Committee was a mask-optional event.
Masked-up attendees were welcomed “if you are more comfortable doing so,” but otherwise, party members could move around Innovation Elementary School while going commando, facial-wise, party chair Steve Baker said at the start of the March 2 meeting.
Baker asked those who were unvaccinated, immunocompromised, had COVID symptoms or were a caregiver of someone with COVID symptoms to remain masked up.
In the wake of the March 2020 arrival of the pandemic, Arlington Democratic meetings moved for more than a year to an online format. When they resumed as in-person events, they were held in county schools, which until March 1 had required masking even at events not sponsored by the school system.
The school system’s March 1 change followed updated health guidance issued days before by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Arlington County Republican Committee, which more quickly returned to in-person meetings, has a mask-optional policy at its meetings. Most monthly GOP gatherings have been held at Crystal City Sports Pub.