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Several governors who refused to impose a statewide mask mandate at the start of the coronavirus pandemic are now reversing their course as cases nationwide surpass 11 million.
The 250,000th death linked to Covid in the country was recorded on Wednesday. The virus death rate is rising from a weekly average of 821 per day in early October to 1,167 per day last week, according to an NBC News analysis.
Iowa
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on Monday issued the state’s first mask warrant, requiring anyone over the age of 2 to wear a face mask inside an indoor public space and unless six feet from a person who is not a member of his household. .
“The pandemic in Iowa is the worst it has ever been,” she said. “Nobody wants to do this. I don’t want to do this.
The three-week mandate, which went into effect on Tuesday, also limits social gatherings to a maximum of 15 people indoors and 30 outdoors. It also limits the hours of operation that bars and restaurants can open for in-person meals.
“If the Iowans don’t buy into this, we lose,” the governor said. “Businesses will close again, more schools will be forced to go online and our healthcare system will fail.”
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Reynolds, a Republican, had previously rejected statewide mask warrants as a “feel-good” measure, telling WHO-AM radio in a July 15 interview that there was no way to enforce such an order.
Around the time of its interview, the Center for Public Integrity obtained a document prepared by the White House Coronavirus Task Force which listed Iowa and 17 other states as being in the “red zone” for Covid-19 cases, which means there were more than 100 new cases per 100,000 population.
The document, which has not been made public, recommended that those states impose more stringent protective measures and require residents to wear a mask at all times.
North Dakota
The governor of North Dakota also issued the state’s first mask warrant after months of resistance to such action.
In an announcement Friday night, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum said the state’s health official had issued an order requiring all residents to wear masks in all indoor businesses and public places and when cannot socialize outside.
“Our situation has changed and we have to change with it,” he said.
The ordinance will remain in effect until December 13.
The ordinance also requires bars and restaurants to close at 10 p.m. and operate at 50% capacity, provided this does not exceed 150 people.
“To be clear, these are statewide requirements, not just recommendations,” Burgum said.
Montana
Montana Governor Steve Bullock on Tuesday expanded a statewide mask mandate. It previously only applied to counties with at least four active cases of Covid-19, but as of Friday, masks will be required in all counties regardless of the number of cases.
The Democratic governor made the announcement as the state reported 1,500 new confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Nebraska still refuses
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts is still turning down a statewide mandate but has relaxed his stance.
In a press conference Monday, Ricketts urged residents to voluntarily wear masks, but did not impose an order requiring residents to do so.
“My position is pretty clear on this,” he said when asked about city leaders considering ordering masks. “I’ve been pretty consistent throughout this pandemic, I don’t think mask mandates are appropriate. I think they breed resistance.”
The Republican governor went on to say that the masks are only a tool the state will use to combat the spread of the coronavirus and urged municipalities considering orders on the masks to check with their legal advisers for “s ‘ensure they comply with the law. “
Nebraska reported 2,204 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday.
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