Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
By March 26, No States Will Require Masks
AP: Hawaii To Lift Last US State Mask Mandate By March 26
The last statewide mask mandate in the U.S. will be lifted by March 26, Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday. No states will require masks indoors after 11:59 p.m. March 25. Hawaii is the last to drop the pandemic safety measure, with indoor mask mandates in Oregon and Washington state expiring at 11:59 p.m. Friday. (Kelleher, 2/9)
ABC News: Every State Has Now Moved To End Universal Indoor Masking Requirements
Officials in every U.S. state and jurisdiction have now ended, or announced an end, to their indoor universal masking requirements. Over the last month, states from coast to coast have moved to end mask mandates as coronavirus cases have plummeted. By the end of March, there will be no more statewide or school mask mandates in effect. (Mitropoulos, 3/8)
In other mask mandate news —
AP: Ohio's Capital City Drops Mask Mandate As COVID Cases Fall
Ohio’s capital and largest city has dropped its mask mandate amid a continuing fall in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther had implemented the mandate in September as COVID-19 cases spiked driven by the delta variant. (3/8)
WPMI: Masks Go Away For Good In Oregon This Week, But Some COVID-Era Changes May Remain
The countdown to Oregon unmasking is on with the statewide mask mandate lifting on Friday and the emergency declaration soon to follow. But it won't be a return to pre-pandemic life; some COVID-era changes are here to stay. “We do have some glass partitions in some of our booths over in the bar that will stay up,” says Jessica Blaine with the Marche Restaurant Group. (Young and staff, 3/7)
Salon: As Mask Mandates Are Loosened, Americans Who Opt To Continue Wearing Face Masks Face Harassment
As mask mandates lift across the country, many Americans are choosing to keep wearing a mask in public places where they're no longer required — like the grocery store, offices and restaurants. Notably, wearing a face mask in public was common in many countries pre-pandemic; it is not a new public behavior by any means. Yet not all bystanders are tolerant of those who are still masked up. Durin (who asked not to use his last name), who lives in Washington, D.C., says he was snubbed by a coworker wearing a mask. "I wear a mask indoors most of the time, because around D.C. most restaurants I go to still require employees to wear a mask," Durin told Salon. (Karlis, 3/8)
NPR: Not Everyone Is Ready To Take The Leap And Stop Wearing Face Masks
While many people have stopped wearing masks and resumed pre-pandemic activities, anxiety persists about dropping COVID precautions, even among people who aren't at high risk for serious illness. (Stein, 3/9)
The New York Times: How Do You Feel About U.S. Mask Mandates Lifting?
Mask mandates are quickly being lifted across the United States as Omicron cases have receded and Covid-19 deaths have fallen. ... We want to hear from you about how you plan on navigating the changing guidance. (3/8)
KHN: The CDC’s New Guidelines On Covid Risk And Masking Elicit Mixed Feelings
When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month unveiled updated covid-19 guidelines that relaxed masking recommendations, some people no doubt sighed in relief and thought it was about time. People have become increasingly comfortable being out shopping, attending live events, or meeting up with friends at restaurants. And many are ready to cast aside their masks. Still, a recent KFF poll pointed to an underlying tension. Just as a large swath of the American public, 62%, said that the worst of the pandemic was behind us, nearly half were worried about easing covid-related restrictions — like indoor masking — too soon. (DeGuzman, 3/9)
