'Masks are only for peasants, not the ruling class I guess': DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is slammed for partying MASKLESS with comedian Dave Chappelle - just hours before her latest face covering mandate came into effect
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has come under fire for partying without a mask just hours before her mandatory face covering order came back into effect.
As of 5AM Saturday, all residents and visitors in the nation's capitol are required to wear a mask in public indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status, due to the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
The Mayor has also urged people to don masks in 'large outdoor settings.'
But it seems she wasn't taking her own advice on Friday night, as she went maskless at a large gathering with celebrity comedian Dave Chappelle.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has come under fire after she was pictured partying without a mask just hours before her mandatory face covering order came back into effect. She is pictured second from right alongside Dave Chappelle
A second photo showed her surrounded by other guests at the event, which took place two days before her 49th birthday
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser implement an indoor mask mandate that will go into effect on July 31
The Mayor was seen cozying up to the funnyman for a photo with three other friends, none of whom had their faces covered.
That snap - which has gone viral on social media - appears to be have been taken indoors.
A second photo showed her surrounded by other guests at the event, which took place two days before her 49th birthday.
Although Bowser wasn't technically breaking her own rules, the snaps sparked anger on Twitter, with some questioning just how concerned she was about the Delta variant.
'So masks are only for the peasants, not the ruling class I guess. Great leadership,' one raged.
'Why do I need a mask this morning when you didn't last night?' another asked.
'So much hypocrisy,' a third person chimed in.
Visitors arriving at DC's Union Station are seen wearing masks on Friday
During a Thursday press conference, Mayor Bowser said the masks are being reintroduced because of the Delta variant
Washington DC has seen a 37.8 percent spike in the number of cases over the last week, including several members of the the Washington Nationals baseball team.
The Nationals were forced to postpone their game Wednesday night after four players and eight staffers tested positive, and all but one were vaccinated.
Washington DC Health Director Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt said during a Thursday press conference that there's been a 'five-fold increase' so far in July in the case rate.
Virus rates 'are skewing to the younger population,' Nesbitt said, and have increased for children age 5 to 14 and young adults age 20 to 34. The vaccine is only approved for ages 12 and up.
Many new cases have been linked to travel, dining out and social activities in large groups, she said.
Nesbitt said the vaccines 'are working as intended,' even when vaccinated people test positive for the coronavirus because the symptoms are milder and they don't need to be hospitalized.
