In a somewhat coordinated effort, the leaders of 11 states that previously had some kind of mask mandate as a response to the rapid increase of Covid cases decided to drop the requirement. Some of them did it immediately, others will be over by the end of February. Those include several states with big gaming enterprises, which welcomed the relaxation. While the cases of the omicron variety of Covid still remains high, the governors claimed that the normalization of hospitalizations and a lower death rate were enough to get them to act. The states that have or plan to drop the universal mask mandate are:
- California: Governor Gavin Newsom dropped what might have been the most draconian restrictions in the U.S. as of February 15. Los Angeles County will keep it in place for the time being for indoor gatherings, but will drop it for “mega” events. But they were still required for last weekend’s Super Bowl.
California’s casinos will not be requiring masks after February 15.
- Delaware: Mandatory masks expired on February 11 in all indoor locations.
- Illinois: The mask mandate will end on February 28, but local jurisdictions can enforce them if infections rise.
- Nevada: Governor Steve Sisolak instituted a mask mandate for all indoor spaces, including casinos and entertainment venues, in July, and had become under increasing pressure to relax it from the gaming, convention and entertainment businesses in the state. He’s also expected to face a tough re-election battle in November. Last Thursday, he dropped the mandate effective immediately.
“Some people think we were ready long ago, some people think we’re not ready yet,” Sisolak said. “I feel now is the appropriate time to move forward.”
Sisolak did not, however, terminate the state of emergency he imposed at the start of the pandemic, keeping the powers he granted to himself in place.
Some casino executives celebrated the news, and most Las Vegas Strip casinos immediately recognized the decision.
“Effective immediately, guests and employees are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors,” MGM Resorts CEO & President Bill Hornbuckle wrote in a letter to employees. But he said MGM would still follow government-issued mandates that remain in place in Massachusetts, Maryland and Michigan.
- New York: Also one of the most extreme states locking people down and imposing mandates, New York Governor Kathy Hockul also eliminated the mask mandate immediately.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for, tremendous progress after two long years,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “We had a mask or vax requirement for businesses … and at this time we say it is the right decision to lift this mandate.”
- Oregon: The mandate in Oregon will remain in place until March 31, according to the state health department, which tied the end of masks to decreased infections and increase vaccinations.
- Washington: Governor Jay Inslee deemed the time was right to relax the outdoor mask mandate on February 18 but is keeping the indoor restriction in place for the time being.
“Today is not the day to lift all of the masking requirements,” Inslee said during a press conference. “It will be, and when we can do this, it is no longer a matter of ‘if,’ it is a question of ‘when.'”
