DoD to require everyone to wear masks regardless of vaccination status on Pentagon properties

The United States Department of Defense announced Wednesday that everyone would be required to wear masks indoors at facilities "owned, leased or otherwise controlled by DoD in the Pentagon Reservation" regardless of vaccination status.

The DoD made the announcement in a statement after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday had updated its guidelines recommending that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors as the new delta variant of the COVID-19 virus spreads.

"Effective immediately, in accordance with CDC guidelines and DoD direction, the Director of Administration & Management has directed that service members, federal employees, onsite contractor employees, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask in an indoor setting in installations and other facilities owned, leased or otherwise controlled by DoD in the Pentagon Reservation," the statement read.

The DoD's announcement follows the recent trend of resuming COVID precautions in many government entities. Masks and other lockdown-related moves have been making a comeback, such as in cities like Los Angeles and St. Louis, which have already reinstituted mask mandates.