Fauci urges state and local leaders to ‘be as forceful as possible’ in the masks

Anthony FauciAnthony FauciHillicon Valley: Russian hackers are back in the spotlight with vaccine investigation attack | Twitter says 130 accounts targeted in this week’s cyber attack | Four Dismissed, Dozens Suspended in CBP Investigation of Racist and Sexist Facebook Groups Overnight Health Care: White House Blocks CDC Director from Testifying Before House Panel | Fauci urges action on the masks | The administration document says counties in the ‘red zone’ should close bars, gyms that the White House prevents the CDC director from testifying before the House panel about reopening schools. He urged state and local leaders on Friday to crack down on the face masks, calling its widespread use one of the most important steps needed to reopen the country safely.

“I would urge leaders, local and other political leaders, in states, cities, and towns, to be as forceful as possible for their citizens to wear masks,” said Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, in a live broadcast. event organized by the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Approximately half of all states now require masks in public spaces when social distancing is not possible after numerous studies showing that facial coatings can delay the spread of COVID-19.

“Practically, when you live your life and try to open a country, you are going to get in touch with people, and that’s why we know that masks are really important and we should use them, everyone,” he added. Fauci, member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

While mounting evidence shows that facial coatings can delay the spread of the coronavirus, until recently, governors have been slow to implement state mandates.

The first states issued requirements in April. Three months later, half of the states still do not have similar mandates, but most allow localities to set their own rules, and many have.

Last week, as COVID-19 cases increase in dozens of states, Republican governors in Alabama and Arkansas and Democrats in Colorado and Louisiana issued orders requiring masks in public when social distancing is not possible. The mandates in Montana and Mississippi also went into effect this week in dozens of counties.

Other governors have strongly opposed issuing rules at the state level. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) rejected calls to issue a state requirement and even issued an executive order that blocks towns from enforcing their own rules. On Thursday, he sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D), arguing that his city’s mask measure violates his executive order.

Iowa and Nebraska are the only two other states that do not have statewide mask rules and also prevent localities from issuing their own requirements.

Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma do not have state-level mandates, but they do allow localities to take action.

Still, some health experts say mask rules should be uniform to be as effective as possible.

The Trump administration has signaled that it will leave the matter to state and local governments to decide instead of issuing a federal mandate.

“We let localities make the decisions regarding facial coatings, and the CDC guidelines remain the same today: recommended, but not mandatory,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Thursday, referring to to the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.