'Neanderthal considering': Biden slams decisions to get rid of COVID-19 mask mandates
04 March, 2021
President Joe Biden on Wednesday (Mar 3) slammed "Neanderthal" decisions by Texas and Mississippi to drop mask-using mandates, underscoring that the COVID-19 pandemic over the United States remains far from beaten.
"I think it's a major mistake. I hope everybody's realised right now, these masks change lives. We're on the cusp to be able fundamentally switch the nature of the disease," Biden informed reporters in the White House, pointing out that the death toll remains to rise at night half-million mark.
"The last element we are in need of is Neanderthal thinking that for the time being, everything's fine - remove your mask, forget it. It still matters."
Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), echoed the warning, saying the Texas and Mississippi decisions to defy federal rules and drop mask requirements were premature.
The United States has recorded a lot more than 500,000 deaths from the coronavirus, but has manufactured progress in the mass vaccination plan, top rated some states to help ease unpopular controls.
Walensky said, "Now could be not the time release a all restrictions."
"The next month or two is really pivotal regarding how this pandemic goes," she said. "I would still encourage individuals to dress in a mask, to socially distance."
Biden's White House coronavirus advisor Andy Slavitt also said that the president was "completely" behind CDC tips for continued mask using.
Walensky cautioned that latest steep declines in COVID-19 deaths and cases showed signs of stalling, and warned that the hyper-transmissible B117 variant "looms prepared to hijack our successes to date."
Texas, accompanied by Mississippi, on Tuesday brushed off warnings never to relax restrictions, telling businesses including restaurants and bars could operate as normal from in a few days.
CAUTION VERSUS OPTIMISM
Just 9.2 % of over-18s in Texas have had two vaccine doses, but Republican condition governor Greg Abbott said the vaccine and better assessment mean normal existence can resume.
"For nearly half of a year, most businesses have already been open either 75 per cent or 50 % and during that time, way too many Texans have been sidelined from occupations," he told a organization forum Tuesday.
"This must end. It is now time to open up Texas 100 %," he thought to cheers from his crowd.
Various Texans welcomed the approach, saying mask-dressed in was a matter of personal personal preference.
"I are convinced this announcement is fantastic. I mean, let people make their unique decision," Ron Mart, essential oil industry worker, told AFP in Houston.
"It doesn't should be mandated. It's not a nanny state kind of issue. The governor isn't my mom, you understand."
But the Democratic mayor of Houston described your choice as "disappointing and disheartening" and tweeted that "each time we start moving in the proper direction the Governor measures in and units us back."
Iowa and Montana eased constraints last month, and in Massachusetts, restaurants now have no potential limit, while in SC gatherings are no longer limited by 250 people.
Some Democratic cities, such as for example SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, are also taking steps towards a post-pandemic lifestyle by allowing indoor eating and museums to open with limited capacity.
Biden features sought to equilibrium his pleas for mask wearing with his message that the US's response to COVID-19 features been transformed since he took more than from Republican president Donald Trump in January.
On Tuesday Biden announced that america could have enough COVID-19 vaccines for its adult inhabitants by the finish of May - 8 weeks earlier than his last forecast.
He as well unveiled a major package for pharma giant Merck to create the vaccine shot produced by its rival Johnson & Johnson.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com