January 1, Democratic Governors Defy CDC Guidance

Several Democratic governors are ending their state’s mask mandates, defying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance that calls for masking in schools and other indoor settings.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced they’re ending mandates requiring face coverings in most indoor public settings — except for schools.

Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Delaware Gov. John Carney, and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont all announced some rollback of indoor masking requirements.

California will soon lift its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated individuals, Delaware is ending its indoor mask mandate, and New Jersey and Connecticut are dropping universal school masking requirements.

The Biden administration, which has been critical of Republican governors who’ve tried to lift mask mandates in schools, isn’t rebuking these Democratic governors.

“We certainly understand and have seen in polling that the public is tired of COVID,” Psaki said when questioned on the issue. “We understand that. So are we.”

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Democratic governors in several states ease mask mandates, though White House is sticking with stricter guidance