- President Joe Biden has criticised the lifting of mask requirements in the states of Texas and Mississippi, calling it “Neanderthal thinking”.
- Masks, social distancing and other measures were still important, despite the role vaccines were playing in containing the pandemic.
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Texas and Mississippi will also allow all businesses to open at full capacity. Other states have announced a relaxation of some rules.
Texas and Mississippi
About 35 states required face coverings to be worn in public places, although enforcement of these mask mandates has been patchy.
The governor of Texas on Tuesday issued an executive order, effective from 10 March, that rescinds most coronavirus measures.
Mississippi ended its mask mandate on Wednesday.
CDC Director
The director of the US Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday said she hopes people will decide to individually “do the right thing” about distancing and wearing masks, even in states moving to eliminate restrictions against the CDC’s recommendations.
“I think we at the CDC have been very clear that now is not the time to release all restrictions,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing.
Walensky’s comments come after governors of Texas and Mississippi said they were lifting mask mandates and allowing businesses to open at full capacity, starting now or within days.
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