Hawaii is the only state not to mandate COVID masks.

February 19, 2022

Washington and New Mexico introduced they had been dropping their indoor masks mandates Thursday, leaving Hawaii as the one state that has but to set a date for lifting its mandate.

Washington’s statewide indoor masks mandate will carry in most locations on March 21, together with at faculties and little one care amenities. New Mexico will drop its mandate instantly, which additionally consists of faculties.

Like the remainder of the nation, each states have seen a gentle decline in each COVID circumstances and hospitalizations because the peak of the omicron surge final month.

Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham cited lowered COVID-19 dangers and eliminated her masks at an indoor information convention alongside Democratic legislators and prime officers from her administration.

“It’s not a political determination,” Lujan Grisham stated. “It’s the proper time for us. We’re conquering COVID and we’ll hold doing that.”

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated throughout a White Home briefing Wednesday that the federal government is considering a change to its masks steerage within the coming weeks.

Additionally within the information:

►Police in Canada stated Friday they had been arresting protesters who’ve blocked visitors for weeks in Ottawa over the nation’s COVID-19 restrictions. The blockade in Canada’s capital was the final stronghold of the “Freedom Convoy” trucker protest.

►U.S. Surgeon Normal Dr. Vivek Murthy examined optimistic for COVID-19, he stated Friday on Twitter. Murthy, his spouse and two youngsters, who additionally examined optimistic, had been all experiencing signs however doing OK, he stated.

►Three Milwaukee cops are being investigated for allegedly creating faux COVID-19 vaccination playing cards to attend out-of-state coaching.

►Authorities made arrests from New York to Delaware to California Thursday as they rounded up 10 males accused of fraudulently reaping greater than $4 million in unemployment advantages through the coronavirus pandemic.

►Providing a glimmer of hope, the Institute for Well being Metrics and Analysis estimates that 73% of Individuals are actually resistant to the omicron coronavirus variant, a quantity some consultants say means future surges might require far much less disruption to society.

►With COVID-19 circumstances surging, Hong Kong’s hospitals reached 90% capability on Thursday. Greater than 6,100 new coronavirus infections had been recorded within the metropolis Thursday, and 24 deaths had been reported over the past week.

New York will not implement booster mandate for well being care employees

New York won’t implement its mandate requiring well being care employees to get COVID-19 boosters in gentle of considerations about staffing shortages, state well being officers stated Friday.

Gov. Kathy Hochul pointed to a troubling rise in breakthrough infections when she introduced the mandate in January. Her administration set a Feb. 21 deadline. However state well being commissioner Mary Bassett stated Friday that the choice to drop enforcement of the mandate displays the fact that booster charges stay low, significantly in nursing properties.

“Whereas we’re making progress with 75% of workers acquired or are keen to obtain their booster, the fact is that not sufficient healthcare employees can be boosted by subsequent week’s requirement as a way to keep away from substantial staffing points in our already overstressed healthcare system,” Bassett stated in an announcement.

Bassett stated state well being officers will take one other have a look at the booster mandate in three months to determine whether or not New York ought to take extra steps to extend booster charges.

Utah joins California in plans to stay in ‘regular state’ of coronavirus

Utah officers on Friday introduced the state’s plan not to deal with COVID-19 like a pandemic and as an alternative view it like different seasonal ailments.

Gov. Spencer Cox stated the “regular state” mannequin will start March 31 by phasing out mass testing websites and fewer incessantly reporting COVID-19 case counts. Cox stated at-home checks, antiviral therapy and wastewater surveillance will assist hold Utah circumstances and hospitalizations at manageable ranges and monitor for brand new spikes, variants and outbreaks.

“Now, let me be clear, this isn’t the tip of COVID, however it’s the finish — or relatively the start — of treating COVID as we do different seasonal respiratory viruses,” Cox stated.

The transfer is just like what California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday introduced as a shift to an “endemic” strategy to the pandemic. As an alternative of attempting to extinguish the virus, Newsom stated California would transition away from disaster mentality and deal with making ready for the inevitable twists COVID-19 might current sooner or later. The plan emphasizes elevated vaccination and testing, combating misinformation, stockpiling medical provides and flooding areas of virus surge with short-term medical employees.

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