More states, cities lift mask mandates, COVID-19 restrictions as cases fall

Almost per week after the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) loosened masks steerage, metropolis and state officers have continued to carry COVID-19 restrictions. 

In New York, college districts made carrying face coverings non-obligatory for college students and employees starting Wednesday, because the statewide masks mandate got here to an finish. 

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Masks are nonetheless required for 10 days following a COVID-19 an infection and are really useful for 10 days for individuals who have been uncovered to a person who has been contaminated. 

In New York Metropolis, an indoor masks mandate is predicted to be lifted on Monday and Mayor Eric Adams has stated he plans to make a remaining resolution on Friday. 

The state’s well being division stated colleges ought to proceed to encourage social distancing, vaccines and testing.

Maine’s state authorities stated Wednesday it will rescind a advice for common masking in colleges and youngster care amenities. 

The Maine Division of Well being and Human Providers and Maine Division of Schooling stated they’d take into account making masks use non-obligatory in these settings starting on March 9. 

Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont additionally relaxed college masking guidelines this week and New Jersey’s statewide college masks mandate ends on March 7.

In close by Pennsylvania, Philadelphia well being officers introduced Wednesday that town was lifting its indoor masks mandate. 

Officers count on to carry the shoo masking guidelines there on March 9. 

To the South, town well being director for New Orleans, Louisiana, stated Wednesday that the Huge Simple is lifting its indoor masks mandate now that the annual Carnival season is over. 

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The masks mandate ended Thursday morning and a requirement for patrons to indicate proof of vaccination or a current destructive take a look at for entry into bars, eating places or different venues is slated to finish on March 21 – ought to hospitalization charges stay steady.

With new COVID-19 instances and hospitalizations falling throughout the nation, the CDC’s new pointers included new county-by-county shade designations to point whether or not residents ought to put on masks or not. 

Primarily based on its threat map, greater than 70% of the U.S. inhabitants is in counties the place the coronavirus is posing a low or medium risk to hospitals.

The company continues to be advising folks, together with schoolchildren, put on masks the place the danger of COVID-19 is excessive, or about 37% of U.S. counties. 

The Krewe of Proteus rolls on the Uptown route with the theme “Divine Tricksters” in New Orleans on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022.
(Brett Duke/The Instances-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate through AP)

The brand new suggestions don’t change the requirement to put on masks on public transportation and indoors in airports, prepare stations and bus stations.

Moreover, the rules for different indoor areas aren’t binding, which means cities and establishments even in areas of low threat might set their very own guidelines. 

“Anyone is actually welcome to put on a masks at any time in the event that they really feel safer carrying a masks,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky advised reporters final week. “We wish to ensure that our hospitals are OK and individuals are not coming in with extreme illness. … Anybody can go to the CDC web site, discover out the quantity of illness of their group and make that call.”

On Wednesday, the White Home launched a brand new pandemic plan laying out a “roadmap” to struggle COVID-19 sooner or later. 

In his State of the Union handle on Tuesday, President Biden stated the U.S. is shifting in a constructive route however has no intention of simply residing with COVID-19. 

“Tonight, I can say we’re shifting ahead safely, again to extra regular routines. It’s time for Individuals to get again to work and fill our nice downtowns once more,” he stated.

The Related Press contributed to this report.