SACRAMENTO(Washington Insider Magazine) – As part of revised indoor mask regulations announced simultaneously by the Democratic governors of Washington, California, and Oregon on Monday, schoolchildren would no longer be obliged to wear masks.
Starting Tuesday, facial coverings will be strongly encouraged rather than a mandate in most indoor venues in California, including schools, regardless of immunization status. On March 12, all restrictions in Oregon and Washington will be lifted. According to ABC NEWS, school systems in all 3 states will now decide whether or not to follow state recommendations.
The 2-year landmark comes as most of the nation softens public health measures, such as school mask regulations, in a bid to re-establish routine and stimulate economic recovery. The shifts indicate an increasing realization that the virus is here to stay and that Americans must find a way to live with it. The state’s masking rules in schools will be abolished by March 2, according to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat. Massachusetts, Delaware, New Jersey, and other states have recently announced similar changes to reduce school regulations.
The statements mark a watershed moment in American history, coming nearly precisely two years after communities throughout the country began closing down to stop the spread of COVID-19. In March 2020, California became the first state to declare a lockdown with stay-at-home regulations, which was quickly adopted by other states.
With Governor Gavin Newsom’s introduction of a strategy that prioritizes prevention and swift response to outbreaks above business shutdowns and compulsory masks early this month, California is the 1st state to publicly change to an endemic response to the coronavirus.
Republicans and other opponents have pressured Newsom to soften the school requirements, which has become a divisive issue amongst parents, with some wondering why it is currently required since masks are really no longer needed in other public areas.
In blatant violation of the state law, a few California school districts have already lifted mask regulations for kids in recent weeks. However, according to a recent poll conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, over 60% of California parents still favor the use of masks in schools.
The West Coast revelations came after the CDC modified federal mask recommendations on Friday, effectively declaring that the bulk of Americans does not have to use masks in several indoor public venues, including schools. In high-risk indoor situations such as public transit, taxis, and airports, federal mask laws still apply.
The latest CDC regulations are based on indicators that are more concerned with what happens in hospitals than with test findings. According to the CDC, over 70% of Americans reside in areas where the coronavirus is a low or medium concern to hospitals, allowing them to avoid using masks for most indoor settings.
Since July, the CDC had recommended universal masking in institutions irrespective of infection levels in the population, but it currently only recommends masks in high-risk areas.