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DC Updates Mask, Self-Quarantine Rules for Vaccinated People

By sophia barnes • published may 1, 2021 • updated on may 2, 2021 at 12:06 am.

D.C. has loosened rules for vaccinated people on face coverings, travel and self-quarantining, but following an update to an executive order on Saturday, the Mayor's Office made it clear that no one can walk into a restaurant or business maskless.

Mayor Muriel Bowser signed an executive order Friday which suggested that people could enter businesses without a mask if they were fully vaccinated. An update on Saturday clarified that that is not the case , according to LaToya Foster, director of communications for the Mayor's Office.

Businesses can, however, require proof of vaccination. If they do so for admittance, registration or employment, exceptions must be made for people with medical issues or religious beliefs that bar vaccinations.

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The order took effect immediately.

The updated rules apply to people who are fully vaccinated, meaning it's been two weeks since they received their one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot or the second dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

The District’s order recommends people with immune conditions take more precautions.

D.C.’s Latest Mask Rules

Mask restrictions have been loosened for vaccinated people under the mayor’s latest order.

Unvaccinated people must continue to wear masks when they’re likely to encounter another person. Previous exceptions including for exercise and eating remain.

Masks are always required for drivers of rideshares, buses, taxis, vans, school buses and other forms of transit, D.C. says.

Vaccinated people can:

• gather indoors in a small group without wearing a mask
• skip masks for outdoor activities with their household, or with a small group of friends and family, unless there is a crowd
• skip masks for outdoor activities with a small gathering of vaccinated and unvaccinated people with whom they do not usually socialize. However, social distance must be maintained and those not fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks

Employers can set more strict rules for their employees.

D.C.’s Latest Travel Guidelines

Vaccinated people who travel within the United States no longer need to self-quarantine after they return.

International travelers should take a COVID-19 test before boarding a flight to the U.S. and 3 to 5 days after returning to the District.

D.C.’s Latest COVID-19 Exposure Orders

Most vaccinated people exposed to someone with COVID-19 no longer have to quarantine, unless they start showing symptoms. The exception is people who live in correctional institutions, group homes, care facilities or other group settings.

Washington, DC, is open to visitors. Here are 2 important advisories to keep in mind before you visit.

• It's best to read up on important advisories before visiting Washington, DC.
• Read on for COVID-19 and weather-related details to keep in mind throughout your trip.
• Visit Insider's hub for travel guides, tips, and recommendations .

While restrictions surrounding COVID-19 in Washington, DC, have frequently changed, now is a great time to visit as rules have eased and the city is open for visitors. Keep reading for need-to-know advisories as you plan your trip to Washington.

COVID-19 advisory

Washington, DC, is open to visitors and proof of vaccination and masks are generally not required currently, but visitors are encouraged to check with individual establishments about their specific COVID-19 protocols. The latest information from the DC government is available here .

Masks are still required on public transportation and visitors may travel to DC from domestic locations in the US without quarantining. However, current CDC guidelines mandate that anyone visiting DC from an international location must still show a negative test before boarding a flight to the US within 24 hours of travel. 

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For more detailed, up-to-date information, visit the Washington, DC, government's online hub for COVID-19 details and data .

Weather advisory

DC is known for its hot, humid summers when thunderstorms are a common occurrence. Dress for warm weather and keep an umbrella handy. It's also important to stay hydrated.

While large amounts of snowfall are uncommon in the winter months, when it does happen, the city and public transportation tend to effectively shut down.

The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang is an excellent resource for weather forecasts during your trip.

View Insider's comprehensive guide to visiting Washington, DC.

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Washington, DC Safety Information

Learn about the agencies that keep us safe, and good tips to follow during your visit.

Please find the most  up-to-date information on travel and safety in Washington, DC  during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The safety of our visitors is our top priority. Destination DC works closely with the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the Metropolitan Police Department and other local and federal government agencies to understand and communicate safety messages on behalf of the tourism community.

There are many safety protocols in place, both seen and unseen. DC safely welcomes millions of visitors each year to the nation’s capital. Here is some helpful information as well as links and important phone numbers. 

DC’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA)  leads the planning and coordination of homeland security and emergency management efforts to ensure that the District of Columbia is prepared. HSEMA is a resource for:

• Information about emergency evacuations . There are 19 evacuation routes out of the city. Look for marked signs or find a route based on your location.
• AlertDC, the District’s emergency notification system. Visitors and residents can sign up to receive alerts via e-mail or text message. Tune in to Cable Channels 13, 16, or local news to also receive updates.

Larry Levine / WMATA

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) oversee safety of DC’s public transit system. MTPD police officers have jurisdiction throughout DC, Maryland and Virginia and officers provide a variety of law enforcement and public safety services on the Metrorail and Metrobus systems in the region. Visitors are encouraged to report suspicious activity by calling 202-962-2121 or texting MyMTPD (696873).

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser is committed to addressing safety concerns. Some of her initiatives include:

• Devoting $214 million to gun violence prevention
• Investing $3 million in community grants focused on violence prevention
• Installation of more than 1,200 security cameras
• Deploying more than 1,200 body-worn cameras to officers
• Training and recruitment of law enforcement agents

Follow these general safety guidelines from the Metropolitan Police Department:

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings. Remove headphones and put cell phones away.
• Don’t travel alone late at night.
• If you see something, say something. You can text information to MPD at 50411 or call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
• Do not accept packages from strangers.
• Do not leave luggage unattended.
• Plan evacuation routes in case of an emergency.

Traveling safely to Washington, DC:

• Amtrak , along with the  Amtrak Police Department , has a range of behind-the-scenes and front-line security measures in place to ensure passenger rail security.
• The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority ’s Public Safety Office oversees safety operations for Ronald Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport.
• BWI Airport’s security Information
• Learn more about TSA Precheck

Medical care:

• There are numerous hospitals in Washington, DC should you need to seek immediate medical attention. This includes George Washington University Hospital , multiple  MedStar hospital locations , Howard University Hospital , Children's National Medical Center  and Sibley Memorial Hospital .
• For in-home medical treatment, Doctors To You  provides house calls to individuals seeking medical care wherever you are in the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia area.

Additional Washington, DC resources:

• Emergency Preparation Videos
• Fire Services , (202) 462-1762
• Department of Health
• 311 – non-emergency DC services
• U.S. Capitol Police: (202) 224-5151
• U.S. Park Police (202) 619-7910

Local news:

• The Washington Post
• NBC Washington

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It’s best to get testing through your provider, but if you need to use public testing, you can save time in line by visiting coronavirus.dc.gov/register to create a profile from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

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Click here to find a pharmacy near you to get the new COVID-19 vaccine.

The Immunization Division, in the Health Care Access Bureau , aims to reduce the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases among residents, visitors, and those working or doing business in the District. We do this by helping healthcare providers obtain vaccines and keeping track of vaccinations given with the District’s Immunization Information System (DOCIIS).

Click on the images below to view the most recent calendar for pediatric vaccine opportunities or find locations where adults who are uninsured or underinsured may be vaccinated.

Find out more about school vaccination requirements here .

Find out more about the recommended childhood vaccination schedule here.

Resources for residents and visitors of the District:

• Visit Pediatric Immunization Community Facilities to find a location to get your child vaccinated.
• Visit Digital Vaccine Record (DVR) to securely access your official COVID-19 vaccination record(s).

Programs and resources for healthcare providers:

• The Vaccines for Children Program provides qualifying healthcare practices with free vaccines for persons under the age of 19 who are eligible for Medicaid, uninsured, or underinsured. The VFC Program oversees providers’ vaccine management and promotes high vaccine coverage through quality improvement activities to ensure safe and effective vaccine administration to patients. Click here for information on how to enroll in VFC.
• The District of Columbia Immunization Information System (DOCIIS) is a population health tool that captures immunization data through health information exchange. Click here for information to access DOCIIS or report immunization data from your facility.

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• Children must be vaccinated to attend school or licensed child development centers in the District of Columbia. Information regarding the schedule of required vaccinations, how schools and licensed child development centers assess compliance with this requirement, and compliance rates by school is available here .

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Final Rule Requiring Automatic Refunds of Airline Tickets and Ancillary Service Fees

Rule makes it easy to get money back for cancelled or significantly changed flights, significantly delayed checked bags, and additional services not provided  

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule that requires airlines to promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when owed. The new rule makes it easy for passengers to obtain refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, significantly delay their checked bags, or fail to provide the extra services they purchased.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them - without headaches or haggling,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg . “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.”  

The final rule creates certainty for consumers by defining the specific circumstances in which airlines must provide refunds. Prior to this rule, airlines were permitted to set their own standards for what kind of flight changes warranted a refund. As a result, refund policies differed from airline to airline, which made it difficult for passengers to know or assert their refund rights. DOT also received complaints of some airlines revising and applying less consumer-friendly refund policies during spikes in flight cancellations and changes. 

Under the rule, passengers are entitled to a refund for:

• Canceled or significantly changed flights: Passengers will be entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered. For the first time, the rule defines “significant change.” Significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability.  
• Significantly delayed baggage return: Passengers who file a mishandled baggage report will be entitled to a refund of their checked bag fee if it is not delivered within 12 hours of their domestic flight arriving at the gate, or 15-30 hours of their international flight arriving at the gate, depending on the length of the flight.  
• Extra services not provided: Passengers will be entitled to a refund for the fee they paid for an extra service — such as Wi-Fi, seat selection, or inflight entertainment — if an airline fails to provide this service.

DOT’s final rule also makes it simple and straightforward for passengers to receive the money they are owed. Without this rule, consumers have to navigate a patchwork of cumbersome processes to request and receive a refund — searching through airline websites to figure out how make the request, filling out extra “digital paperwork,” or at times waiting for hours on the phone. In addition, passengers would receive a travel credit or voucher by default from some airlines instead of getting their money back, so they could not use their refund to rebook on another airline when their flight was changed or cancelled without navigating a cumbersome request process.  

The final rule improves the passenger experience by requiring refunds to be:

• Automatic: Airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops.   
• Prompt: Airlines and ticket agents must issue refunds within seven business days of refunds becoming due for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.  
• Cash or original form of payment: Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in cash or whatever original payment method the individual used to make the purchase, such as credit card or airline miles. Airlines may not substitute vouchers, travel credits, or other forms of compensation unless the passenger affirmatively chooses to accept alternative compensation.    
• Full amount: Airlines and ticket agents must provide full refunds of the ticket purchase price, minus the value of any portion of transportation already used. The refunds must include all government-imposed taxes and fees and airline-imposed fees, regardless of whether the taxes or fees are refundable to airlines.

The final rule also requires airlines to provide prompt notifications to consumers affected by a cancelled or significantly changed flight of their right to a refund of the ticket and extra service fees, as well as any related policies.

In addition, in instances where consumers are restricted by a government or advised by a medical professional not to travel to, from, or within the United States due to a serious communicable disease, the final rule requires that airlines must provide travel credits or vouchers. Consumers may be required to provide documentary evidence to support their request. Travel vouchers or credits provided by airlines must be transferrable and valid for at least five years from the date of issuance.

The Department received a significant number of complaints against airlines and ticket agents for refusing to provide a refund or for delaying processing of refunds during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, refund complaints peaked at 87 percent of all air travel service complaints received by DOT. Refund problems continue to make up a substantial share of the complaints that DOT receives.

DOT’s Historic Record of Consumer Protection Under the Biden-Harris Administration

Under the Biden-Harris Administration and Secretary Buttigieg, DOT has advanced the largest expansion of airline passenger rights, issued the biggest fines against airlines for failing consumers, and returned more money to passengers in refunds and reimbursements than ever before in the Department’s history.

• Thanks to pressure from Secretary Buttigieg and DOT’s flightrights.gov dashboard, all 10 major U.S. airlines guarantee free rebooking and meals, and nine guarantee hotel accommodations when an airline issue causes a significant delay or cancellation. These are new commitments the airlines added to their customer service plans that DOT can legally ensure they adhere to and are displayed on flightrights.gov .  
• Since President Biden took office, DOT has helped return more than $3 billion in refunds and reimbursements owed to airline passengers – including over $600 million to passengers affected by the Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown in 2022.   
• Under Secretary Buttigieg, DOT has issued over $164 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations. Between 1996 and 2020, DOT collectively issued less than $71 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations.  
• DOT recently launched a new partnership with a bipartisan group of state attorneys general to fast-track the review of consumer complaints, hold airlines accountable, and protect the rights of the traveling public.  
• In 2023, the flight cancellation rate in the U.S. was a record low at under 1.2% — the lowest rate of flight cancellations in over 10 years despite a record amount of air travel.  
• DOT is undertaking its first ever industry-wide review of airline privacy practices and its first review of airline loyalty programs.

In addition to finalizing the rules to require automatic refunds and protect against surprise fees, DOT is also pursuing rulemakings that would:

• Propose to ban family seating junk fees and guarantee that parents can sit with their children for no extra charge when they fly. Before President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg pressed airlines last year, no airline committed to guaranteeing fee-free family seating. Now, four airlines guarantee fee-free family seating, and the Department is working on its family seating junk fee ban proposal.  
• Propose to make passenger compensation and amenities mandatory so that travelers are taken care of when airlines cause flight delays or cancellations.   
• Expand the rights for passengers who use wheelchairs and ensure that they can travel safely and with dignity . The comment period on this proposed rule closes on May 13, 2024.

The final rule on refunds can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/latest-news and at regulations.gov , docket number DOT-OST-2022-0089. There are different implementation periods in this final rule ranging from six months for airlines to provide automatic refunds when owed to 12 months for airlines to provide transferable travel vouchers or credits when consumers are unable to travel for reasons related to a serious communicable disease. 

Information about airline passenger rights, as well as DOT’s rules, guidance and orders, can be found at   https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer .