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“I think it’s a big mistake. Look, I hope everyone has realized by now, these masks make a difference. We are about to be able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because of the way we can put vaccines in the arms of the people, “Biden said when asked about the decisions of Republican governments. Greg Abbott from Texas and Tate Reeves from Mississippi to relax restrictions.
“The last, last thing we need is for a Neanderthal to think that in the meantime, everything is fine, take off the mask, forget it. It still matters,” Biden said, referring to a card he keeps in his pocket with daily death. the toll from the virus amid his administration’s push to take vaccines to arms.
Biden, who is meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the Oval Office on the issue of ending cancer, called on all Americans to continue to follow the guidelines despite mixed messages from some state officials.
“It’s critical – critical, critical, critical – that they follow the science: wash your hands, hot water, do it often. Wear a mask and stay socially distanced. And I know everyone knows that. Of our elected officials knew that,” he said to journalists.
Abbott and Reeves announced this week that they were eliminating mask mandates in Texas and Mississippi and will allow companies to operate at full capacity. The decisions are made as health experts warn that loosening restrictions now could lead to another spike in coronavirus cases, especially as the variants continue to spread.
Abbott Press Secretary Renae Eze told CNN in a statement that Abbott “was clear in telling Texans that COVID is not over and that all Texans must follow medical advice and safe practices to continue to contain COVID. “.
“From the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations and safe practices that Texans are using, it is clear that state mandates are no longer necessary. Now we must do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy to Texans, “Eze’s statement said. “The Governor’s focus has been, and always will be, protecting the lives and livelihoods of Texans.”
Reeves took advantage of Biden’s age while defending his decision.
“Given how long ago Mr. Biden was elected to the United States Congress, you should certainly know how Neanderthals think,” Reeves said. “But here’s the reality, I trust that the people of Mississippi will make the right decisions. I trust that the American people will make the right decisions. The fact is, you can’t just focus on data and science and make good decisions in those days. when the numbers go up and they ignore the data and science in those days when the numbers are going down. And the fact is, we’ve seen significant drops. “
“Please hear me clearly: At this level of cases with spreading variants, we may completely lose our hard-won ground. These variants are a very real threat to our people and our progress,” Walensky said Monday during a conference at the White House. instructions.
Walensky added: “Now is not the time to relax the critical safeguards that we know can stop the spread of Covid-19 in our communities. Not when we are this close.”
Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose coronavirus vaccine, the third Covid-19 injection licensed for use in the US, began to be administered this week.
On Wednesday, Walensky reiterated that he is encouraging people to wear masks and practice social distancing to protect their own health and stop the spread of the virus.
“Every individual has the power to do the right thing here, regardless of what the states decide,” Walensky said.