<p>California and several of other states are doing away with mask mandates in the coming days and weeks as the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which can cause COVID-19, fades across America.</p>
<p>Governors in three other blue states, Connecticut, Delaware, and New Jersey, will follow suit.</p>
<p>But in California, the rule will come with a whole bunch of caveats.</p>
<p>&#8220;California will end its indoor masking requirement for vaccinated people next week but masks still are the rule for schoolchildren,&#8221; the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-california-los-angeles-cb541495555a38f0dd2f02bd2bd3a1b3">reported</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;After Feb. 15, unvaccinated people still will be required to be masked indoors, and everyone — vaccinated or not — will have to wear masks in higher-risk areas like public transit and nursing homes and other congregate living facilities, officials said,&#8221; the AP said. &#8220;Local governments can continue their own indoor masking requirements and last week Los Angeles County’s health officials said they intend to keep theirs in place beyond the state deadline.</p>
<p>What&#8217;s more, state officials said indoor “mega events” with more than 1,000 people &#8220;will have to require vaccinations or negative tests for those attending and those who are unvaccinated will be required to wear masks,&#8221; the AP reported.</p>
<p>“Omicron has loosened its hold on California, vaccines for children under 5 are around the corner, and access to COVID-19 treatments is improving,” state Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás J. Aragón said, according to the wire service. “With things moving in the right direction, we are making responsible modifications to COVID-19 prevention measures, while also continuing to develop a longer-term action plan for the state.”</p>
<p>New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) called the decision to end mask mandates &#8220;a huge step back to normalcy for our kids&#8221; but added that individual school districts can continue requiring masks if they choose after the state mandate ends March 7.</p>
<p>&#8220;We are not &#8211; and I&#8217;ve said this many times &#8211; going to manage COVID to zero,&#8221; Murphy said. &#8220;We have to learn how to live with COVID as we move from a pandemic to an endemic phase of this virus.&#8221;</p>
<p>The moves come as Omicron loosens its grip on the U.S. On Sunday, there were 396 deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S., <a href="https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6">according</a> to the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering. Exactly a year before, on February 6, 2021, there were 2,662 deaths.</p>
<p>While that&#8217;s just a single day &#8212; and over the past month the two numbers were on any given day not far apart &#8212; other data show things may be beginning to ebb.</p>
<p>&#8220;Most states are now reporting fewer deaths than they had been a week ago, a USA Today analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows,&#8221; the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/02/07/covid-19-news-omicron-specific-booster-may-not-needed-yet/6685168001/">paper</a> wrote Monday. &#8220;Just 20 states reported increasing numbers of deaths compared to the previous week. That number was 34 states a week earlier. The United States continues to average about 2,400 to 2,500 deaths per day, a daily human cost about equal to the losses at Pearl Harbor.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;We need to be cautiously optimistic,&#8221; Ogbonnaya Omenka, an assistant professor and director of diversity at the Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, told USA Today. &#8220;Considering the surrounding circumstances, including the spread of the virus still, it won&#8217;t be very useful to the public to expect omicron to be the last variant.&#8221;</p>
<p><em>Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent, and ran the Drudge Report from 2010 to 2015. Send tips to josephcurl@dailywire.com.</em></p>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

California, Other States To End Mask Mandates — But California Keeps It For Schools

Vegas Family Claims Craft Crashed In Backyard, 9-Foot Aliens Emerged

Endless Pride: British Library Posts About Fish That Can Change Its Sex

Russia Taking Over Ukraine Not A ‘Top Foreign Policy Priority,’ GOP Presidential Candidate Says

America Has Spoken: There Are Two Genders. Period.

NY Times, WaPo Do Cartwheels To Spin Biden’s Clumsy Tumble; Twitterers Shred Them

Here’s The Weirdest Story You’ll Ever Read About Sen. Dianne Feinstein

News and Analysis

California

COVID

Mask Mandate

New Jersey

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News and Analysis —

California, Other States To End Mask Mandates — But California Keeps It For Schools