One by one, blue states across the United States have been rolling back their Covid-19 restrictions, going against C.D.C. guidelines that are still backed by the White House.Why are governors in states like California, Illinois and New York taking those actions? And what do they say about the shifting politics of the pandemic?Guest: Lisa Lerer, a national political correspondent for The New York Times.Have you lost a loved one during the pandemic? The Daily is working on a special episode memorializing those we have lost to the coronavirus. If you would like to share their name on the episode, please RECORD A VOICE MEMO and send it to us at [email protected]. You can find more information and specific instructions here.Background reading: Democratic governors have been easing Covid rules in a loosely coordinated effort that is the result of months of public-health planning, back-channel discussions and political focus groups.The Biden administration said that federal masking guidance would not change for now, but officials are seeking advice from health experts on the way forward.Want more from The Daily? For one big idea on the news each week from our team, subscribe to our newsletter. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Despite CDC guidelines, blue states in the US, including New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut, are lifting their COVID restrictions and doing away with mask mandates, despite high vaccination rates.
New Jersey, a state with some of the toughest COVID-19 restrictions in the country, may begin to implement more open policies as Governor Phil Murphy faces backlash from voters. Public health experts are starting to question whether keeping kids in masks is worth the impact on their development and learning.
Political strategists argue that President Biden is missing a chance to celebrate his success in handling the COVID-19 pandemic by pushing for further restrictions and mandates, which invite attacks from Republicans and accusations of hypocrisy.
Protests against pandemic regulations in Canada have continued for the last month, with truckers and supporters blocking bridges along the border with the U.S. The protesters are opposing Canada's tough mandates and have expanded to become a rallying cry for some far right groups.