Yesterday, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky warned that states moving to reopen too quickly – the majority of which are GOP-led – are contributing to an alarming rise in COVID cases nationwide. Increasingly, states have been quick to ignore the advice of public health experts and scrapped critical safety measures like mask mandates while doing nothing to crack down on large gatherings without social distancing.
It’s clear that too many states are putting their constituents at risk by ignoring the advice of the nation’s top public health experts, and as President Biden takes aggressive action to defeat the pandemic and get shots into arms at a record pace, lax standards are actively working against the progress to get us out of this crisis.
As coronavirus cases spike, President Biden and public health officials are urging states to follow their continued advice to remain cautious and maintain safety measures as the country gets vaccinated.
HEADLINE: “CDC Chief Warns Of ‘Impending Doom’ As Covid Cases Surge.” [Politico, 3/29/21]
- CDC Director Rochelle Walensky Said She Would Be Speaking With Governors About Their Reopening Plans As Concern Spreads That States Have Opened Prematurely. “CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on Monday said rebounding Covid case counts gave her a sense of ‘impending doom’ and warned the public to continue following public health precautions with more contagious strains of the virus taking hold. […] Walensky said she’ll be speaking to governors this week about their reopening plans, making it clear she thinks some have lifted restrictions prematurely — although according to the CDC website, states recording the highest rate of infection aren’t all those that have relaxed their rules.” [Politico, 3/29/21]
HEADLINE: “Biden Pushes Mask Mandate As C.D.C. Director Warns Of ‘Impending Doom.’” [New York Times, 3/29/21]
- President Biden Called On Governors To Reinstate Mask Mandates As The DCD Director Warned Of “Impending Doom.” “President Biden, facing a rise in coronavirus cases around the country, called on Monday for governors and mayors to reinstate mask mandates as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of ‘impending doom’ from a potential fourth surge of the pandemic. The president’s comments came only hours after the C.D.C. director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, appeared to fight back tears as she pleaded with Americans to ‘hold on a little while longer’ and continue following public health advice, like wearing masks and social distancing, to curb the virus’s spread.” [New York Times, 3/29/21]
HEADLINE: “The Latest: Biden Urges Americans To ‘Stick With The Rules.’” [Associated Press, 3/11/21]
- President Biden Urged Americans To Remain Caution And Warned That States May Need To Reinstate Restrictions If People Fail To Stay Vigilant. “President Joe Biden is urging Americans to “stick with the rules” as he wraps up his address to the nation on the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. He is voicing optimism that the United States will edge toward a semblance of normalcy in the coming months, noting ‘there is hope and light of better days ahead if we all do our part.’ But the president is also warning that ‘we may have to reinstate restrictions’ if Americans fail to stay vigilant about social distancing and other precautions to help stem the virus. Biden says, ‘Please, we don’t want to do that again, we’ve made so much progress,’ adding, ‘This is not the time to let up.’” [Associated Press, 3/11/21]
Yet many states have ignored Biden’s advice, eliminating safety measures and opening up their states too soon — causing the spikes we are now seeing nationwide.
FLORIDA
Florida’s Governor Recently Canceled All Fines Related To Local Government Coronavirus Restrictions, And The State Has Never Instituted A Statewide Mask Mandate.
- March 10: Governor DeSantis Canceled All Fines Related To Local Government Coronavirus Restrictions. “Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order that cancels all fines related to local government coronavirus restrictions. The governor’s order, signed Wednesday, states that any fines on people and businesses imposed by local governments in Florida since March 2020 because of “unprecedented local government restrictions” are remitted.” [WPTV, 3/10/21]
- Florida Never Required Face Coverings Statewide. “They’re joining 11 other states — Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee — that never required face coverings statewide.” [ABC News, 3/4/21]
March 30, 2021: Florida Ranks Twelvth In COVID Cases Per Capita Over The Past Week And Ranks Third In Total Cases Of COVID Throughout The Pandemic.
- Florida Ranks Twelvth In COVID Cases Per Capita Over The Past Week. According to the New York Times, Florida ranks 12th in COVID cases per capita over the past week. [New York Times, accessed 3/30/21]
- Florida Ranks Third In Total COVID Cases, With A Total Of 2,047,371 Cases. According to the New York Times, Florida ranks third in total cases of COVID and has had 2,047,371 infections. [New York Times, accessed 3/30/21]
IDAHO
March 6: In Idaho, A State Where Masks Have Never Been Required By A Statewide Mandate, Protestors, Including The Lieutenant Governor, Held Mass Protests Where They Burned Masks.
- March 6: Protestors In Idaho, Including The Lieutenant Governor, Held Mass Protests Where They Burned Masks. “More than a year into a pandemic that has claimed 523,000 lives in the United States, right-wing protesters in Idaho, including a handful of elected officials, set protective masks aflame Saturday, claiming face coverings stifle their personal liberties. […] The protesters held mask-burnings Saturday in locations across the state, where masks are strongly recommended but not required by Idaho Gov. Brad Little. At a gathering of more than 100 in the state capital, protesters tossed coverings into a flaming barrel and cheered at supportive remarks by Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, a far-right militia supporter whose relations with Little, a fellow Republican, are strained.” [Los Angeles Times, 3/18/21]
- Idaho Never Required Face Coverings Statewide. “They’re joining 11 other states — Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee — that never required face coverings statewide.” [ABC News, 3/4/21]
March 30, 2021: COVID Cases In Idaho Are “Higher And Staying High.”
- March 30, 2021: COVID Cases In Idaho Are “Higher And Staying High.” According to the New York Times, COVID cases in Idaho are “higher and staying high.” [New York Times, accessed 3/30/21]
IOWA
February 2, 2021: Iowa’s Governor Lifted The State’s Mask Mandate.
- February 2, 2021: Iowa’s Governor Lifted The State’s Mask Mandate. “Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday defended her decision to rescind a limited mask mandate and related restrictions, saying Iowans don’t need a government order to protect themselves from the coronavirus. ‘Iowans know what to do. We’ve been telling them for a year what they need to do. And they’re doing it,’ Reynolds said in her first news conference since she announced Friday she was lifting the state’s mask mandate and social distancing rules. Unlike many other governors, Reynolds did not implement a mask mandate during the initial wave of coronavirus infections in the spring. She issued her mandate in November, when infections and hospitalizations were surging throughout the state. The rule she put in place required Iowans to wear masks when indoors and unable to socially distance for 15 minutes or more.” [Des Moines Register, 2/10/21]
March 28, 2021: The Average Number Of Daily COVID Cases In Iowa Increased Nearly 34 Percent Compared To The Previous Week.
- March 28, 2021: The Average Number Of Daily COVID Cases In Iowa Increased Nearly 34 Percent Compared To The Previous Week. “The number of cases of the novel coronavirus added to Iowa’s total per day, based on a seven-day running average, showed a significant increase in the last week, according to state data. As of 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, the Iowa Department of Public Health said that 457 people who tested positive for COVID-19 were reported to the state since Saturday morning. The total number of individuals who have tested positive is now 349,598. The seven-day rolling average of newly-reported cases of the coronavirus is 560.6 per day. This is the highest daily average since February 17′s 574.6 per day. The change since last Sunday’s seven-day rolling average of 418.7 shows a 33.8% increase in daily cases. This is the largest change in a week since January 9, when the rate of average daily cases increased by 35.5% following the holiday-related lull in testing around New Year’s.” [KCRG, 3/28/21]
MARYLAND
March 9: Maryland’s Governor Announced He Was Lifting Many Of The State’s Restrictions, Including Business Capacity Limits And The Out-Of-State Travel Ban.
- March 9: Maryland’s Governor Announced He Was Lifting Many Of The State’s Restrictions, Including Business Capacity Limits And The Out-Of-State Travel Ban.“Hogan announced on March 9 that he will lift many of the restrictions due to the pandemic in the state as far as indoor capacity of restaurants and businesses and lifting the out-of-state travel advisory while mandating masks be worn by residents to combat the coronavirus. Hogan’s order took effect March 12 at 5 p.m.” [The Washington Informer, 3/17/21]
March 29, 2021: Maryland Reported Over 1,000 New Coronavirus Cases For The Sixth Straight Day.
- March 29, 2021: Maryland Reported Over 1,000 New Coronavirus Cases For The Sixth Straight Day. “Maryland reported more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases for the sixth straight day, as more than 31,000 doses of vaccine doses were administered, according to state data released Monday. While Maryland has relaxed many coronavirus restrictions as vaccines roll out, the statewide positivity rate is again on the verge of the 5% threshold the World Health Organization recommends jurisdictions stay below before lifting regulations. The number of deaths and hospitalizations from the disease also increased in the past 24 hours, according to the Maryland Department of Health.” [Baltimore Sun, 3/29/21]
MICHIGAN
March 2021: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Increased Restaurant Capacity From 25 Percent to 50 Percent.
- March 2021: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Increased Restaurant Capacity From 25 Percent to 50 Percent. “Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has increased restaurant capacity in her state from 25% to 50%, told Tapper on Sunday that because the number of hospitalizations are low and the vaccinations are high in the state, she feels they can ‘do this responsibly.’” [CNN, 3/7/21]
March 30, 3021: Michigan Ranks Second In COVID Cases Per Capita Over The Past Week.
- Michigan Ranks Second In COVID Cases Per Capita Over The Past Week.. According to the New York Times, Michigan ranks 2nd in COVID cases per capita over the past week. [New York Times, accessed 3/30/21]
NEW HAMPSHIRE
March 12: New Hampshire’s Governor Announced A Removal Of COVID Restrictions Including Lifting The Capacity Limits On Retail Stores And The Eliminating The Quarantine Requirement For Out-Of-State Travelers.
- March 12: New Hampshire’s Governor Announced An Easing Of COVID Restrictions Including Lifting The Capacity Limits On Retail Stores And The Eliminating The Quarantine Requirement For Out-Of-State Travelers. “New Hampshire is easing some of its COVID restrictions on businesses and travel. […] New Hampshire is also easing some restrictions there. The state will no longer require out-of-state travelers to quarantine when they arrive, but it’s still recommended. […] The governor also says retail stores can now operate at full capacity but says the mask mandate will remain in effect.” [Yahoo News, 3/12/21]
March 29, 2021: The Average Number Of New Cases In New Hampshire Has Risen 25 Percent In The Past Two Weeks
- March 29, 2021: The Average Number Of New Cases In New Hampshire Has Risen 25 Percent In The Past Two Weeks. “The average number of new cases has risen 25% in the past two weeks, the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 hasn’t budged over that same period and, most distressing of all, the number of deaths has increased sharply since early March.” [Concord Monitor, 3/29/21]
NEW JERSEY
March 20, 2021: New Jersey’s Governor Increased The Capacity Limit For Many Businesses And Increased The Limits For Gatherings.
- March 20, 2021: New Jersey’s Governor Increased The Capacity Limit For Many Businesses And Increased The Limits For Gatherings. “Capacity at New Jersey restaurants, gyms and health clubs, recreational facilities and arcades, and personal care businesses increased to 50% Friday, though Governor Phil Murphy warned residents against getting complacent even as COVID restrictions are eased. Indoor gatherings increased from a limit of 10 people to 25, while outdoor gatherings went from 25 to 50 people.” [ABC 7 News, 3/20/21]
March 30, 3021: New Jersey Ranks Third In COVID Cases Per Capita Over The Past Week.
- New Jersey Ranks Third In COVID Cases Per Capita Over The Past Week. According to the New York Times, Ney Jersey ranks 3rd in COVID cases per capita over the past week. [New York Times, accessed 3/30/21]
NEW YORK
March 21, 2021: Some New York COVID Restrictions Were Relaxed, Including The Increasing Of Capacity Limits And The Elimination of “Yellow Zones.”
- March 21, 2021: Some New York COVID Restrictions Were Relaxed, Including The Increasing Of Capacity Limits And The Elimination of “Yellow Zones.” “One, indoor fitness classes can resume statewide at 33% capacity, with cleaning and contact tracing protocols and local health department inspections required. Mayor Bill de Blasio balked at the fitness class announcement from Governor Andrew Cuomo last week, accusing the governor of basing his decision on his current political troubles. […] Restrictions in parts of the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens—called ‘yellow zones’—will also be lifted after remaining under stricter public health guidelines than surrounding areas due to high COVID-19 rates. The cluster zones had been located in the East and West parts of the Bronx, Manhattan, as well as Kew Gardens and Forest Hills in Queens. […] In public places, gatherings can rise from 50 people to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors beginning Monday. At residences, outdoor gatherings will rise to 25 people, but shall remain at 10 people indoors.” [Gothamist, 3/21/21]
March 30, 3021: New York Ranks First In COVID Cases Per Capita Over The Past Week.
- New York Ranks First In COVID Cases Per Capita Over The Past Week. According to the New York Times, New Jersey ranks 1st in COVID cases per capita over the past week. [New York Times, accessed 3/30/21]
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Was “One Of The Few States To Issue No Restrictions To Curb The Spread Of The Coronavirus.”
- South Dakota Was “One Of The Few States To Issue No Restrictions To Curb The Spread Of The Coronavirus.” “Finally, on Nov. 13, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum issued a statewide mask mandate and restricted capacity in bars and restaurants. Such an order never came in South Dakota, one of the few states to issue no restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus. [NBC News, 2/9/21]
March 23, 2021: HEADLINE: “South Dakota’s COVID-19 Hospitalizations Increase As Active Cases Continue To Fluctuate.”
- March 23, 2021: HEADLINE: “South Dakota’s COVID-19 Hospitalizations Increase As Active Cases Continue To Fluctuate.” [Mitchell Republic, 3/23/21]
WEST VIRGINIA
March 6: West Virginia’s Governor Began Allowing Bars, Restaurants, Retail Stores, Gyms, And Movie Theaters To Operate At 100 Percent Capacity.
- March 6: West Virginia’s Governor Began Allowing Bars, Restaurants, Retail Stores, Gyms, And Movie Theaters To Operate At 100 Percent Capacity. “As of midnight Saturday morning, bars and restaurants can now seat indoors at 100 percent capacity. The same is true for retail stores, gyms, and movie theaters. West Virginia’s rapid decline in key COVID-19 numbers is the reason for the full re-opening.” [WOWK, 3/5/21]
March 21, 2021: WOWK: “West Virginia Is Experiencing A Spike In Active COVID-19 Cases.”
- March 21, 2021: WOWK: “West Virginia Is Experiencing A Spike In Active COVID-19 Cases.” “West Virginia is experiencing a spike in active COVID-19 cases. As of Sunday, March 21, The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources report 348 new active COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases to 137,826. Of this number, 5,514 are considered active cases; this is an increase of 115 cases. The spike began on Thursday, March 16, with 5,207 active cases reported.” [WOWK, 3/21/21]