Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Mask Use Is Slipping, Even For Unvaccinated Americans
Axios: Poll: Mask Use Drops After CDC Relaxes Guidelines
Vaccinated Americans are easing up on wearing masks — but so are unvaccinated Americans, according to a new Ipsos poll. The latest findings are an early snapshot of how people are modifying their behavior since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that fully vaccinated people don't have to wear masks outside. (Nather, 5/5)
AP: Michigan Lifts Outdoor Mask Requirement For Crowds Under 100
Michigan late Tuesday lifted an outdoor mask requirement except in gatherings of at least 100 people and in organized contact sports, and said teen athletes no longer must undergo regular COVID-19 testing if they are fully vaccinated. Under a revised pandemic order that takes effect Thursday, the state also eased caps on outdoor event sizes and said vaccinated people are not required to be masked at indoor residential gatherings even if others are unvaccinated. (Eggert, 5/5)
Tampa Bay Times: Pinellas Rescinds Mask Mandate After DeSantis’ Executive Order
Pinellas County on Tuesday announced the removal of three initiatives enacted during the pandemic, including its mask ordinance, one day after Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order that immediately lifted local governments’ COVID-19 restrictions. County officials rescinded the mask ordinance adopted on June 23, which required face coverings in most indoor public places except while eating and drinking. The ordinance also required social distancing, groups no larger than 10 and for customers to be seated in order to be served. (McManus, 5/4)
Tampa Bay Times: In Tampa Bay Schools, The End Is In Sight For Mask Mandates
Pinellas County district schools won’t require students to wear masks after the current semester ends on June 9. Superintendent Mike Grego announced the decision, first discussed at the School Board’s April 20 workshop, a day after Gov. Ron DeSantis declared Florida’s health emergency essentially over. Grego said it made sense to continue the rule through the end of classes, because it was a promise made to families who agreed to send their children back to campuses for in-person learning. (Solochek, 5/4)
Patch: Anti-Mask Protesters Harass Students, Parents Outside Schools
A group of anti-mask protesters stood outside Santa Monica schools Monday, harassing students and parents just outside the campus. "You're not supposed to talk to other people's children, OK?" One father, who confronted the group outside the school said. "You're walking around a school. Creepy." He told them to stay away from kids at John Adams Middle School and Will Rogers Elementary. A woman confronted the group and described losing three loved ones to the coronavirus. Another man walking his dog told the group to get out of his neighborhood. Students even told them to go away. (Charky, 5/3)
CNN: Why Some Vaccinated People Keep Wearing Their Masks -- Even Outdoors
The vaccinated are emerging from 14 months of social isolation into a world where key questions remain about where and when to wear a mask. Is that unmasked person near me vaccinated? If I don't wear a mask, am I setting a bad example or making others uneasy? This confusion is sparking political debates similar to ones seen in the early days of the pandemic. And while places are reopening and things feel safer, lingering anxieties remain. (Karimi, 5/4)
But Oregon takes a different approach —
The Oregonian: Oregon Indefinitely Extends Mask, Distancing Rules Aimed At Protecting Workers From COVID-19
Oregon is indefinitely extending a workplace rule adopted last fall that requires employers to adhere to specific safety measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Under the rule, employers must ensure that their employees wear masks and maintain physical distance in the workplace, among other requirements. (Goldberg, 5/4)
