Covid-19: Comparing the US and Canada
In Canada, a band of truckers opposed to vaccine requirements has laid “siege” to Ottawa and set off 10 days of protests that have snarled that nation’s capital.
In the US, more states are planning to go mask-optional in schools as Covid-19 case numbers decline.
New states to end mask requirements. Now it’s Democratic governors who are softening the rules on masks.
Murphy set a one-month timeline and said masks would no longer be required in New Jersey schools and child care settings as of March 7, although local communities can create their own rules if needed.
In Connecticut, Lamont recommended ending the statewide mask requirement in schools and child care centers by the end of February.
“I think now is the time for us to say, the statewide mask mandate is no longer at our level. Each and every mayor, each and every superintendent, can make that call for themselves. I recommend the date February 28,” he said.
“The guidance is very clear, which is that we recommend masking in schools,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. “That is the recommendation from the CDC. It is also true that at some point when the science and the data warrants, of course, our hope is that that’s no longer the recommendation, and they are continually assessing that.”
States, however, are free to ignore the recommendation.
“It’s always been up to school districts,” said Psaki. “That’s always been our point of view and always been our policy from here. And our policy from the federal government is to continue to advise everybody to abide by public health guidelines.”
Getting back to normal. CNN’s Jacqueline Howard looks at the arguments for and against the government updating its guidance on masks and other measures as cases fall.
“We have to be totally honest that we don’t know,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s top pandemic adviser, said at a recent White House…
Read More: Covid-19: Comparing the US and Canada