Montgomery County is recommending that residents mask up again as COVID cases in the county rise, the first locality in the D.C. region to make such a suggestion in several months.

The case rate has risen “steadily” in the past month, according to a county statement sent out Wednesday afternoon, and now is more than double what it was just two weeks ago. The uptick in COVID infections comes alongside the prevalence of the flu, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses that have been overwhelming local hospitals. 

“Our current surge in cases is coming right before the holidays and with increased travel and gatherings, there is concern that transmission may increase and strain the health care system,” County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “I encourage all residents to take extra precautions and to make sure they are up to date on vaccinations, including getting a flu vaccine.”

As of Dec. 14, the county has reported a rate of around 121 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 7 days — up significantly from a rate of roughly 70 on Nov. 27.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Montgomery County has a “low” COVID community level, a metric based on the number of new COVID cases, new hospitalization, and new COVID-19 cases. Since earlier this year, the CDC has only recommended mask-wearing indoors in areas where the COVID community level is “high.” Most jurisdictions in the region — like D.C. and counties in Northern Virginia — have followed the CDC’s lead, leaving masks optional in most indoor settings as levels of spread have remained low.

In neighboring Prince George’s County, cases also rose in the first week of December, with a total weekly case count increasing by about 82% from the week before it. In D.C., the city’s health department reported about 70 cases per 100,000 residents as of Dec. 3.

On Wednesday, health leaders in the District made a pitch for residents to get their flu shots, as the city’s understaffed hospitals struggle to keep up with a high demand of patients. Asked if the city would consider reinstating a mask mandate, interim DC Health Director Sharon Lewis said the city was not considering a mask mandate, and instead left it up to an individual’s choice.