Virginia and Maryland have lifted their indoor mask mandates in line with CDC guidance issued earlier this week. Starting Saturday, residents in both states will no longer have to wear masks inside — with some exceptions, including while riding public transit and indoors at health care facilities and schools.

Businesses in both states can still require patrons to wear a mask, and employees in certain industries including restaurants, retail, fitness, personal care, and entertainment must wear masks until they are fully vaccinated. The announcement applies to everyone, but both Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan urged individuals who have not yet been vaccinated to do so.

“If you’re fully vaccinated, which means two weeks have passed since you received your second shot or your one dose of Johnson & Johnson, you should feel free to safely resume any activities,” Hogan said during a press conference Friday.

Virginia will relax additional COVID-19 restrictions — including expanded capacity for sports and entertainment venues, and increased social gathering limits, and allowing bars to sell alcohol after midnight — starting at midnight Friday. Maryland issued similar guidance earlier this month; all capacity restrictions on outdoor entertainment and sports venues, indoor entertainment venues, and indoor dining will drop on May 15.

Northam announced Friday that Virginia will likely ease all social distancing and capacity limit restrictions by Friday, May 28 — two weeks earlier than expected. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Northam, and Hogan have all said they lift capacity limits on restaurants and entertainment venues in the coming weeks.

“Virginians have been working hard, and we are seeing the results in our strong vaccine numbers and dramatically lowered case counts,” Northam said in a press release issued Friday. “That’s why we can safely move up the timeline for lifting mitigation measures in Virginia.”

D.C, Maryland, and Virginia have seen drastic decreases in their daily coronavirus case counts in recent weeks. Virginia reported 579 daily COVID-19 cases on May 13 compared to a high of 9,914 on Jan. 17. Maryland reported 747 cases on May 13 down from 3,791 on Dec. 4.

Northam said Virginia’s state of emergency will remain in effect until June 30. Hogan also said the state will not lift its state of emergency just yet.

“It allows us to continue utilizing the National Guard as we are continuing the vaccination effort,” Hogan said. “[The state of emergency] still remains in place, but there are no restrictions.”

Hogan said his team had decided to lift the mask mandate by Memorial Day weekend before the CDC issued its guidance, but the surprise news encouraged them to move that timeline up.

“Our long hard-fought battle against the worst global pandemic in more than a century is finally nearing an end,” Hogan said.

But DC-area counties are making their own decisions about whether to lift the indoor mask mandate, continuing the patchwork of COVID regulations in the region.

Prince George’s County officials said they have no plan to lift the indoor mask mandate at this time. County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced last week that on Monday at 5 p.m. full capacity to amusement parks, bingo halls, casinos, gyms, places of worship, restaurants indoors and outdoors, and senior centers will be restored. Some venues will continue to have capacity restrictions: day banquet halls, conference centers, sporting events, and outdoor campgrounds will be limited to 50% capacity.

On Monday, May 17, Montgomery County reported that 60% of residents have received at least one dose of a vaccine, triggering the next phase of the county’s vaccination-based reopening plan. (The county has generally taken a more conservative approach, moving more slowly than Hogan’s statewide reopening moves.)

With Monday’s new vaccination benchmark, all outdoor gatherings can operate at fully capacity, and most businesses can increase to 75% capacity indoors. On May 28 — two weeks after Montgomery County recorded that 50% of adults had received at least one dose — the county will fall in line with Hogan’s statewide orders, lifting capacity restrictions and mask mandates. Until then, masks are still required indoors and outdoors.

The council will be voting to officially approve the new health measures on Tuesday, May 18.

Council President Tom Hucker told DCist/WAMU that he was pleased that Montgomery County is well above the state and the nation’s overall vaccination rates, with 50% of county residents fully vaccinated.

“It’s a tribute to our residents and the community and our public health team for doing a great job of putting out stronger restrictions that, of course, were costly for some people, but it was the best thing to do to save lives,” Hucker said. “I think we’re better off for it right now and we will continue to look a the numbers.”

Arlington County officials told DCist/WAMU in a statement that they cautiously welcome Gov. Northam’s announcement.

“We encourage everyone in the community to remain vigilant and safe and continue to wear masks in areas that still require them,” Matt DeFerranti, chair of the county board, said in a statement.

This story was updated with comments from D.C.-area counties.