More and more Democrats have called for an end to mandatory masking and other COVID-19 restrictions as new case rates caused by the omicron variant plummet across the United States.

Democrats have favored more stringent restrictions throughout the pandemic, but they are increasingly aware that the public is fatigued and ready to pivot from an emergency footing to one in which the coronavirus is tolerated as a part of regular life. Several Democratic governors in recent days have set end dates for mask-related restrictions and have been applauded by national Democrats.