Washington, D.C. will lift its indoor mask requirements starting on March 1, the city's mayor Muriel Bowser announced on Monday.

This change applies to restaurants and bars, sports and entertainment venues, houses of worship, retain establishments, gyms, recreational centers, indoor facilities, businesses and DC government offices with no public interaction.

However, masks will continue to be required at a number of locations, including schools, health facilities, DC government facilities with direct interaction, public transit vehicles and any private business that wants to require use of masks by employees or customers.

In December, Bowser reimposed the indoor mask requirement as D.C.'s daily COVID-19 cases began to surge and at one point became the highest in the U.S.

In late January, the mandate was extended until the end of February, instead of allowing it to expire at the end of January.

Bowser also announced that as of February 15, indoor venues will no longer have to verify that patrons have been vaccinated but businesses will have the option to keep the requirements in place.

Bowser noted that COVID-19 cases in the district had dropped by more than 90 percent, and there had been a 95 percent reduction in hospitalizations since the height of the onset of the Omicron variant.

She also underscored the importance of booster shots especially in battling the wave of the Omicron variant and pledged to do everything to avail the jab.

"We will continue as a government to do everything that we can related to public education and access to booster shots, easy free access to booster shots at our COVID-19 centers."

Bowser clarified that the vaccine requirement for D.C. government employees and health care workers remains in place.

(With input from agencies)