- All of the governors dropping restrictions this week – with the exception of the one in Massachusetts – are Democrats like US President Joe Biden.
- On Wednesday, the governors of New York and Illinois announced they would end their Covid-19 mandates requiring face coverings in most indoor public settings, but keep it for schools.
- State leaders are crediting a fall in Covid-19 cases as the winter Omicron wave recedes for the easing of restrictions.
The White House is facing pressure. Pandemic limits are loosened in US jurisdictions as reported by BBC.
Impatient governors
The governors of New York, Illinois and Massachusetts have said they will end certain mask mandates in their states.
Impatient governors have been urging the White House to release guidance for dropping the use of face coverings.
But the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reiterated on Wednesday that it was not yet time to lift US mask requirements.
And White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Americans should follow the CDC guidelines rather than less-restrictive state or local rules.
Governors, however, are not waiting around for the go-ahead from medical experts in Washington.
Ending COVID-19 mandates
All of the governors dropping restrictions this week – with the exception of the one in Massachusetts – are Democrats like US President Joe Biden.
Mask rules have already been eased or were never adopted in most Republican-led states.
On Wednesday, the governors of New York and Illinois announced they would end their Covid-19 mandates requiring face coverings in most indoor public settings, but keep it for schools.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said her state would stop requiring people to wear a mask or prove they had received a Covid-19 vaccine when entering most indoor public places from Thursday.
“It’s time to give our kids a sense of normalcy,” Mr Baker said.
Relax mask rules
Boston Public Schools, the state’s largest school district, said it was still deciding how to respond to Mr Baker’s move to relax mask rules.
State leaders are crediting a fall in Covid-19 cases as the winter Omicron wave recedes for the easing of restrictions.
But sceptics have accused them of following polling data as frustration grows among a pandemic-weary public and November’s mid-term elections loom.
“I’m standing up for my kids,” one parent told WGN News.
“Everyone’s had time to get vaccinated, the masks haven’t made a difference with cases, the studies are shown and enough is enough.”
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Source: BBC
