Washington and New Mexico announced they were dropping their indoor mask mandates Thursday, leaving Hawaii as the only state that has yet to set a date for lifting its mandate.
Washington’s statewide indoor mask mandate will lift in most places on March 21, including at schools and child care facilities. New Mexico will drop its mandate immediately, which also includes schools.
Like the rest of the country, both states have seen a steady decline in both COVID cases and hospitalizations since the height of the omicron surge last month.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham cited reduced COVID-19 risks and removed her mask from her at an indoor news conference alongside Democratic legislators and top officials from her administration from her.
“It’s not a political decision,” Lujan Grisham said. “It’s the right time for us. We are conquering COVID and we’ll keep doing that.”
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House briefing Wednesday that the government is contemplating a change to its mask guidance in the coming weeks.
Also in the news:
►Three Milwaukee police officers are being investigated for allegedly creating fake COVID-19 vaccination cards to attend out-of-state training.
►Authorities made arrests from New York to Delaware to California Thursday as they rounded up 10 men accused of fraudulently reaping more than $4 million in unemployment benefits during the coronavirus pandemic.
►Offering a glimmer of hope, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that 73% of Americans are now immune to the omicron coronavirus variant, a number of experts say means future surges could require far less disruption to society.
📈Today’s numbers: The US has recorded more than 78 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 931,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University dating. Global totals: More than 419 million cases and over 5.8 million deaths. More than 214 million Americans – 64.6% – are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
📘 What we’re reading: US Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Thursday it is the job of school leaders to listen to parents, students and educators as they continue to grapple with the lingering effects of the pandemic on the nation’s public schools.
Keep refreshing this page for the latest news. Want more? Sign up for USA TODAY’s free Coronavirus Watch newsletter to receive updates directly to your inbox and join our Facebook group.
The Oscars will require COVID tests for all guests, but not vaccines for all
the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences you have devised to complicated COVID-19 policy for guests attending the 94th annual oscars in Los Angeles on March 27, USA TODAY has confirmed.
The New York Timesreported Thursday that a wall-down list of invited guests – including nominees – will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and at least two negative PCR tests to enter. This year 2,500 guests are invited to watch the show inside the Dolby Theatre, which generally holds 3,317.
Meanwhile, show performers and award presenters will be required to undergo testing, but will not be required to show proof of vaccination, the Times reported.
Face cover requirements will also vary at the awards show depending on the seat location in the theater, according to the Times. High-profile nominees and their guests seated in a spaced-out orchestra section (closer to the stage and in the view of television cameras) will not be required to wear face masks.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
Contributing: The Associated Press
www.usatoday.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism