As the Coronavirus cases are trending downwards throughout the country and most of the citizens are fully vaccinated, many states are reportedly beginning to lift masks mandates and other requirements enacted during the pandemics.

Referring to the Johns Hopkins University data, the USNews writes ‘Daily Coronavirus Cases Trending Downward in Every State as Deaths Appear to Plateau’. “Every state is reporting a downward trend in new coronavirus infections. The U.S. was averaging more than 313,000 new coronavirus cases each day as of Friday – down from the country’s peak of over 800,000 infections reported on average each day in mid-January. But the current daily case average is still higher than any previous wave of the pandemic.”

As a result, many states have started easing masks mandate and other restrictions, the Washington Post reports. “Officials in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Oregon said they would drop school mask mandates in the coming weeks. California, meanwhile, will end its universal indoor mandate, and while face coverings will still be required in schools, leaders said they are working to adjust the rules for children and teachers.”

Reacting to these moves, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that “now is not the moment” to lift the safety restrictions.

I know people are interested in taking masks off. I too am interested. That would be one marker that we have much of the pandemic behind us. Right now our CDC guidance has not changed. … We continue to endorse universal masking in schools.

– Dr Rochelle Walensky, Director of CDC (source: The Washington Post)

• Four states plan to lift school mask mandates; CDC still backs face coverings
• School mask mandates are falling in states across the Northeast
• Daily Coronavirus Cases Trending Downward in Every State as Deaths Appear to Plateau
• St. Paul poised to end vaccine-or-test requirement for restaurants, bars
• Omicron continues pain for event businesses in MN, still not back to normal

In Minnesota, though the Omicron case loads are reportedly decreasing, Omicron continues pain for event businesses in MN, still not back to normal, according the MPR News.

However, because of the improving COVID-19 trends, both the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis are reportedly eyeing ‘an earlier than planned end to the vaccine-or-test requirements instituted last month for restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues’ reports the Star Tribune.

With a promising downward trend of case counts in Ramsey County, we look forward to discontinuing the requirement as soon as possible .

– Malvin Carter, City of St. Paul Mayor (source: Star Tribune)

According to Minneapolis city spokeswoman Sarah McKenzie, Minneapolis may follow suit saying “Mayor Jacob Frey hopes to lift it as soon as evidence supports the decision. The end of the week is a possibility, but he wants to review data with the experts.”