Blue states rolling back unpopular COVID-19 mandates

Democrats in some blue states are racing to unwind pandemic-era restrictions that have grown deeply unpopular with voters — even though COVID-19, in some of those places, poses no less danger than when leaders put the restrictions in place.

Illinois and New York on Wednesday became the latest Democratic-controlled states to announce an end to statewide mask mandates in light of the shifting consensus around the virus, although the states left intact mask requirements in schools.