From The Washington Examiner: More states are reducing their mask requirements or lifting COVID-19 regulations altogether as dropping case numbers bring the United States closer to normality in the third year of the pandemic..

STATES THAT HAVE LIFTED STATEWIDE MASK REQUIREMENTS

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week an end to a statewide rule that required masks indoors and proof of vaccination, citing the “tremendous progress” that has been made in the fight against COVID-19 as her reason for the shift in policy.

President Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware also said it would allow its indoor mask mandate to expire Feb. 11.

• Alabama.
• Arkansas.
• Colorado.
• Delaware.
• Indiana.
• Iowa.
• Kansas.
• Kentucky.
• Louisiana.
• Mississippi.
• Montana.
• Maryland.
• Maine.
• Michigan.
• Minnesota.
• Massachusetts.
• North Carolina.
• New Hampshire.
• New Jersey.
• New York.
• North Dakota.
• Nevada.
• Ohio.
• Pennsylvania.
• Rhode Island.
• Texas.
• Utah.
• Vermont.
• Virginia.
• Wyoming.
• Wisconsin.
• West Virginia.

Several states that have dropped statewide mask requirements have continued to enforce mask usage in schools, including Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.

STATES THAT WILL SOON DROP STATEWIDE MASK MANDATES

• California — lifting Feb. 15.
• Connecticut — lifting Feb. 28.
• Illinois — lifting by Feb. 28.
• Oregon — lifting March 31.

A number of Democratic-led states have decided to drop their statewide mask mandates in the coming weeks, marking a shift in policy from previous months.

California officials announced Feb. 7 that the state’s indoor mask mandate would expire Feb. 15 for individuals vaccinated against COVID-19, while unvaccinated individuals will still be asked to wear face masks while indoors…

STATES THAT NEVER IMPOSED STATEWIDE MASK REQUIREMENTS

Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota was vocal about her state’s refusal to implement a mask mandate at any point during the pandemic. Ten other states joined her in refusing to compel face coverings.

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee

STATES THAT STILL HAVE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATES

• • Hawaii
  • Washington
  • New Mexico

The nation’s capital has also implemented a strict indoor mask mandate. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser recently extended the mandate through Feb. 28.

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(Excerpt from The Washington Examiner. Photo Credit: Getty Images)