Mrs. Ho's AP Lang!: Dori Week 20- Mask Mandate Being Lifted?

As Covid-19 cases have been declining recently, some state governments have begun to lift their mask mandates and become more lenient in restrictions. Currently, 34 states, as well as D.C. and Puerto Rico, mandate masks for the public. Texas, Mississippi, Iowa and Montana ended their mask mandates this past month. Other states such as Wyoming, Alabama, and Arkansas are expected to drop their mask mandates within weeks. These states are joining “Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee” (ABC News source): states which never required wearing a mask. However, for the states recently ending their mandate, it is still recommended to wear a mask as part of one’s personal responsibility, as Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama said.

Further, last Tuesday (March 9th), Texas and Mississippi committed to permitting all businesses to operate at full capacity: decisions that President Biden does not agree with. On the topic of disagreement, representatives of the CDC have also been unhappy with the mask leniency that is emerging. Specifically, on Wednesday, March 10th, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said, “Cases in the country are leveling off at rates just on the cusp of potential to resurge.” She went on to say that a new, even more contagious, Covid-19 variant from the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7), “looms ready to hijack our successes to date," and emphasized how critical it is that "individuals wear a mask, socially distance and do the right thing to protect their own health." Another expert, infectious-disease specialist Dr. Peter Chin-Hong at the University of California at San Francisco, stated, “It's completely too soon" and that masks should be the last to go since variants will become more likely to spread (Business Insider). These are just a couple of the many experts who believe in maintaining the mask mandate.

In my opinion, lifting the mask mandate and general restrictions are not good ideas. It has taken so long, almost a year in fact, to see a steady decline in Covid-19 cases throughout this country. Why is it worth jeopardizing all of that now by becoming less strict in protocol and mask-wearing? There are still at least hundreds of people dying every day from Covid-19 and even more hospitalized. People have lost or almost lost loved ones to this virus. Wearing a mask is so simple to do and should not be a great inconvenience, considering how it can prevent transmission of the virus and save multiple lives. Not to mention, variants of the virus are beginning to spread, making the situation even riskier. I believe it would be better if the mask mandate and related precautions were sustained once more people have taken the vaccine. Herd immunity is one of the most important and effective ways to end this pandemic, and until 65% to 80% of the population are immune, these restrictions should stay in place.