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US ends federal mask mandate; COVID protection is personal responsibility
Jon Lieber, head of Eurasia Group's coverage of political and policy developments in Washington, discusses the end of federal mask mandates:
What are the implications of the end of the federal mask mandate?
A federal judge in Florida this week ruled that President Biden's order requiring masks, facial coverings on federally regulated forms of transportation, including planes, buses, and trains is unlawful and should not be enforced. The mask mandate was the most visible and impactful mandate handed down by President Biden, who campaigned in 2020 on doing more than his predecessor, Donald Trump to stop the spread of the virus, but was really limited by the limited authorities the federal government has to take drastic measures to control public safety, most of which are controlled by the states. This is the latest setback to Biden's pandemic policies. Earlier this year, a federal judge said that he did not have the ability to impose a vaccine mandate for large employers. And at this point, Biden lacks both the policy tools and the political standing to do much else.
Polling indicates that Americans are done with the pandemic. The pandemic has dropped precipitously as a number one concern for voters who now say, they're more worried about things like inflation, immigration, crime, and more broadly healthcare. Air travel's hovering at about 90% of where it was from pre-pandemic levels and mobility data suggests that people are largely returning to their pre-pandemic routines.
One thing that has not happened, however, is a return to office: data from the largest cities shows that fewer than half of workers nationwide are returning to their pre-pandemic commuting patterns, which could end up being one of the more enduring shifts on public behavior coming out of the pandemic.
When it comes to masks, there's massive partisan splits in the polling, as there is many things, with Democrats and the vaccinated generally saying they support mask mandates when you're out and about with other people, and Republicans and the unvaccinated saying that they're largely against them.
Regardless, the Biden administration is unlikely to appeal this ruling and the mask mandates on planes is unlikely to come back. Case counts are low. The new variants are relatively mild. Biden has bigger political fights to fight. And the benefits of universal indoor masking are too tenuous to make this worth his while. The US has now firmly pivoted to the view that protection from the virus is a personal responsibility, which is why you're going to see vulnerable people and people who worried about the virus continue to mask and social distance. And the rest of the population will continue to try to return their lives as normal. The US is still on track to record its one millionth death from COVID sometimes soon and most of these deaths, sadly will have come under President Biden, despite his campaign promise to get the virus under control.
Dr. Fauci’s cautious take on post-vaccine life
Dr. Tony Fauci has faced renewed heat lately from critics across the political spectrum, including The View's Meghan McCain, who feel the White House has not provided clear enough guidance to Americans about how to navigate the pandemic. And as millions receive their second jab of COVID-19 vaccines, demands for clear guidelines about what vaccinated Americans can or cannot do have grown louder. On GZERO World, Dr. Fauci offers more context, but stops short from providing definitive answers, about post-vaccine life. "You know, things will change gradually because we want to accumulate data....Just because you're vaccinated, restaurants are not going to open. Ball games are not going to be played necessarily. Theaters are not going to be open."
Ian Bremmer's conversation with Dr. Fauci is part of the latest episode of GZERO World, which will begin airing on US public television nationwide Friday, February 26th. Check local listings.
America faces a “loneliness pandemic,” too, says former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
Lockdowns, social distancing and isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic can take a toll on mental health, Dr. Vivek Murthy told Ian Bremmer on GZERO World. While maintaining distance and avoiding group gatherings is necessary at this time, we must also be mindful of having meaningful interactions with friends and family. Dr. Murthy discusses how this unprecedented moment could lead to either a "social recession" or "social revival" depending on what path we take as a nation.
Lessons not learned: America’s pandemic response with Vivek Murthy
Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy joins Ian Bremmer to discuss how the Sun Belt states became America's epicenter in the COVID-19 outbreak, the latest treatments and therapies for the most severely ill, and another pandemic plaguing America in this time of social distancing and isolation—loneliness.
Ask an epidemiologist: Harvard's Marc Lipsitch answers your COVID questions
Do masks really protect us? Are children less vulnerable to COVID-19? And why do scientists hope you avoid indoor bars? This week, GZERO World is taking all of our burning questions about the latest in the pandemic to a Harvard epidemiologist. Marc Lipsitch is a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics. So, he knows his stuff!
Dr. Larry Brilliant: Wear masks, hats and gloves
On GZERO World with Ian Bremmer, legendary epidemiologist Dr. Larry Brilliant challenges the mixed messages on masks coming from the US government. He tells Ian that masks, and even the addition of hats, gloves, and glasses, are essential to stopping the spread of COVID-19 until there is a vaccine.
Dr. Brilliant recounts a story from 1918, after a deadly wave of flu had claimed millions of lives. In celebration, leaders of San Francisco threw a party where revelers removed their masks. Months later, the virus was back and deadlier than before.