As coronavirus cases have increased, public safety measures promoted by doctors and scientists worldwide to reduce the risk of infection have been stubborn for some Americans: wearing face masks.
In fact, as of Friday, 12 U.S. states had not issued the requirement to wear masks and were showing high levels of infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus-related deaths in the U.S. quickly reached close to 300,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Center.
Many who oppose wearing masks say that COVID-19 hazards are being exaggerated or that the mask violates command rights, is not enforceable, or polarizes. President Trump has ridiculed the use of masks, although they have worn them at the time.
In some communities, protests have been staged by protesters against the mask order.
In a recent case, anti-mask protesters gathered outside the homes of Idaho’s public health department and board members during a virtual meeting to vote on a local mask ordinance. Ada County Commissioner, apparently shaken Diana Lachiondo walked out of the meeting early because she said she was worried about her 12-year-old son, who was still at home. Board members voted to adjourn the meeting to a later date.
A study by researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, published October 23, showed that masks could save the lives of more than half a million people by the end of February, if Americans leave their homes each time.
U.S. health officials have stressed in recent days that the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine will take months and that safety measures are important. President-elect Joe Biden this week has asked everyone to wear a mask during the first 100 days of his presidency, which begins Jan. 20.
“We need your help. Wear a mask for just 100 days,” Biden said in a Twitter video. “Cavid cases are the easiest thing you can do to reduce hospitalization and death.”
Here in the U.S. Has some latest information about mask requirements
Which states do not have mask orders and what are some of their causes?
Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee do not have mask orders.
Some governors have encouraged people to wear masks voluntarily, but refused to enforce the law despite calls from some residents, local politicians and health and medical organizations to take such action. Some governors have said local governments will be more capable of enforcing the rules.
Republican Nebraska Govt. “I don’t think the mask order is appropriate,” Pete Ricketts told reporters during a Nov. 17 press conference. However, he has asked Nebraskans to wear masks when visiting grocery stores or in crowded or closed settings.
Several types of mask mandates were adopted in many of Nebraska’s major cities, typically providing exceptions for children and disabilities or medical conditions that prevent them from wearing them. However, some areas, such as Douglas County, cannot legally enforce such rules until approved by the state. County commissioners recently called on the governor to reconsider his stance on the mask order.
“It simply came to our notice then. Wearing a blank mask will keep you safe and respect the airspace of the people you see, ”Douglas County Commissioner and former Omaha Mayor Mike Boyle said in an interview. “The governor is really following the Trump line. That’s really bad. ”
In South Dakota, Republican Gov. Christie Noime has opposed the mask order and refused to close businesses or close churches.
“Since the epidemic began, Governor Noime has provided his people with advanced science, facts and data and then relied on them to make the best decisions for them, their families and – in turn – their communities.” Ian Fury, the governor’s director of communications, said in an email statement. “And when it comes to the mask command, the data is clear. Cases are also increasing dramatically in states that enforce the mask order. ”
South Dakota Sen. Red Dawn Foster and Rep. Perry Purier, both Democrats, recently sent a letter to the governor asking him to look at the party’s past and introduce the need for a mask.
“This is not a political game of roulette with our communities or our families. It is a public health issue that transcends political parties and strikes at the very roots of our humanity, ”he wrote in a letter on November 19.
The South Dakota State Medical Association, which includes physicians, residents and medical students, last week urged the governor to take a more aggressive approach to preventing the spread of coronavirus. The group recommended, citing a report by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, that the state ensure that masks are always worn in the state and reduce capacity in spaces inside public and private buildings.
“We urge people to adhere to these precautions to avoid overuse of health systems and to avoid situations where there are not enough beds, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in the hospital,” he said. Benjamin C. Aakar, SDSMA president, said in a statement. “A vaccine is almost here, but for now, it’s important to follow these recommendations.”
Do states without mask orders bring in infections at a higher rate than the national average?
Yes. The infection rate in all 12 states is higher than the national average of 730 cases per 100,000 people, according to the CDC.
South Dakota has the highest 12, with 10,057 cases per 100,000 people.
Here are the infection rates in 11 other states without mask command:
- Nebraska: 7,556 cases per 100,000 people
- Idaho: 6,728
- Tennessee: 6,248
- Mississippi: 5,869
- Oklahoma: 5,793
- Missouri: 5,463
- Arizona: 5,404
- Alaska: 5,148
- Florida: 5,054
- Georgia: 4,995
- South Carolina: 4,754
Do states with mask mandates do significantly better?
Of the 38 states with mask orders, 18 have higher rates than the national average.
According to a study published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report in October, researchers have found that “a combination of voluntary and enforcement measures is more effective than any one step.”
“Mandatory mitigation measures by public policy can effectively increase social distance, and the wearing of masks has prevented the transmission of SARS-CO-2,” the study said.
North Dakota has 11,474 cases per 100,000 people, the highest of all 50 states. The government’s Doug Bergham resisted enforcing the order for months until November, when he said doctors and nurses needed help as the number of cases increased. “Our situation has changed, and we should change with it,” he said in a press release.
Vermont decided to order the mask in August, citing an increase in coronavirus infections.
“Instead of waiting like other states, I think we need to take action now to protect our profits, which has allowed us to reopen many parts of our economy.” Green Mountain State has 864 cases per 100,000 people in the country.
The country’s top infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fawcett told CNN in October that enforcing the nationwide order could be difficult but needed to help slow the rate of infection.
“They seem very simple, but we’re not doing it uniformly, and that’s one of the reasons we’re seeing this boom,” he said.
When Biden says what he means, he will work with governors and mayors to implement the mask order. What if they refuse to cooperate?
Said Biden Twitter That he would aim to sign executive orders for the need for masks everywhere. Wearing a mask, he said, it is not a political statement but an act of patriotism.
“It will start with my signature on the first day for those who need masks under laws such as federal buildings, interstate travel, planes, trains and buses,” he said. “I will work with governors and mayors in their states and in their cities to do the same. We will need masks wherever possible, but this will go beyond government action. And so, as the new president, I will speak directly to the American people and say: We need your help. ”
