As cities and states across the country announce mask mandate sunset dates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may announce updates to its guidance in the next few weeks.
White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked Monday if President Joe Biden would continue to frequent businesses in Washington, D.C., once it lifts vaccine and mask mandates, a decision that runs contrary to CDC guidance.
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“As Dr. Fauci has said, as a country, we are making strong progress toward moving to a time when COVID is no longer a crisis,” said Jean-Pierre. “And [CDC Director Rochelle] Walensky has clearly said [the] CDC is looking at all of their guidance, including mask guidance, in light of declining cases and hospitalizations.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday that the city’s vaccine mandate for restaurants will expire on Tuesday, with the mask mandate expiring at the end of the month.
Once a partisan debate, mask mandates have fallen out of favor with Democratic governors over the last week, with several announcing that they will abandon the practice.
But the CDC has so far stuck to its guidance that everyone age 2 and over wear a mask indoors.
“We have and continue to recommend masking in areas of high and substantial transmission — that is essentially everywhere in the country in public indoor settings,” Walensky said last week.
Jean-Pierre indicated that the guidance could soon change.
“We are spending significant time and energy on the path forward, working with experts and leaders within and outside the government,” she said. “And if this progress continues, we expect updates in the weeks ahead. This is a huge responsibility that we do not take lightly.”
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Despite D.C. loosening its rules, Jean-Pierre also told reporters the White House will continue requiring masks, citing CDC guidance.
