Mask requirements return to public schools in Portland, Maine



Public schools in Portland, Maine, are once again requiring students, staff, and visitors to wear face masks indoors and on school buses because of a local surge in COVID-19 cases.

Superintendent Xavier Botana informed families on Tuesday that an indoor mask mandate would go back into effect on Thursday, May 12, WGME-TV reported. "This step has become necessary to help keep everyone safe as positive cases of COVID-19 are rapidly increasing in our community and schools," Botana wrote in a letter.

Portland schools had lifted mask requirements in March when it appeared the COVID-19 pandemic was slowing down after two years. But according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maine currently has the highest rate of new COVID-19 infections in the U.S.

Cumberland County, where Portland Public Schools are located, was categorized as an area of "high" viral spread by the CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels tracker last week. Botana said that pooled testing results and local wastewater data backed up the CDC's findings.

"When the transmission of COVID in our community is that high, the CDC recommends that everyone wear a mask indoors," Botana said.

“I understand how disappointing this change may be to many of you who stopped wearing a mask when masking became optional on March 14 at a time of low case counts. However, I cautioned at that time that if our school and community data changed, we might need to increase our mitigation strategies, including returning to masking in some schools or district wide,” he wrote to school families.

“This is now a time of high transmission, but few people in our schools are wearing masks. Adding to the risk is the fact that end-of-year ceremonies and other gatherings are taking place. While we are not recommending changes to these events, all these factors make a return to required masking the safest course at this time,” he said.

According to the CDC, new sub-variants of the Omicron strain are responsible for the surge in positive cases in the northeast. The latest data reported for Maine found that cases and hospitalizations rose sharply in recent weeks, with 1,001 new cases reported Thursday and a total of 221 new hospitalizations. Of those hospitalized on Thursday, 31 have been placed in critical care and two were on ventilators, the Portland Press Herald reports.

Public schools in Bangor have also reinstated mask mandates in response to the virus surge. Additionally, school districts in several counties with high rates of transmission have announced a return to remote learning Thursday and Friday because of staffing shortages.

Philadelphia reinstates mask mandate, despite CDC guidance



Philadelphia will reinstate its citywide indoor mask mandate in response to rising COVID-19 cases, the city public health department announced Monday.

The city is is raising its COVID-19 response level to "Mask Precautions," becoming one of the only major U.S. cities to still require mask-wearing in public. Just last month, Philadelphia had moved to the "All Clear" response level, ending all pandemic restrictions.

The city will provide a one-week education period for businesses to comply with the reinstated masking rules.

"Starting April 18, masks will be required in all indoor public spaces, including schools and childcare settings, businesses, restaurants, and government buildings," the health department said. "At that time, residents will be asked to report any business not complying with the mandate."

Starting April 18, masks will be required in all indoor public spaces, including schools and childcare settings, businesses, restaurants, and government buildings. At that time, residents will be asked to report any business not complying with the mandate to @philly311. (2/4)
— Philadelphia Public Health (@Philadelphia Public Health) 1649700285

At least two conditions need to have been met for the city to return to "Mask Precautions," which is the level 2 tier above "Level 1: All Clear": average new cases per day are between 100 and 225, hospitalizations are between 50 and 100, or cases have increased by more than 50% over the last 10 days.

"The mask mandate is tied to the COVID Response Levels, and as COVID cases rise in Philly, we want to protect our most vulnerable residents. Wearing a mask around others is an easy way to do that. The sooner that we can stop this wave, the sooner we can get back to Level 1," the health department said.

At a press conference Monday, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole said that coronavirus cases increased by more than 50% in a 10-day period last week, resulting in an average of 142 new cases per day.

"This looks like we may be at the start of a new COVID wave like Europe just saw," she said, according to WTXF-TV.

Bettigole was referring to the recent spike of coronavirus cases reported in Europe caused by the BA.2 Omicron subvariant, a more contagious but not deadlier strain of the coronavirus.

White House COVID-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha spoke about the new variant on Monday, telling NBC News he is "not overly concerned right now" about the possibility of another virus surge like the Delta or Omicron surges. During an interview on "Today," Jha said that case and hospitalization numbers nationwide are among the lowest they've been during the entire pandemic.

“I don’t think this is a moment where we have to be excessively concerned,” Jha said.

Philadelphia's decision to reinstate its indoor mask mandate contradicts guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which states that areas with fewer than 200 new cases per 100,000 people in the past 7 days have low levels of community spread.

At a "low" level of spread, the CDC recommends that state and local authorities prioritize vaccination and ensure access to testing, but does not suggest that masking be required by law.

Nevertheless, the city's health department is moving forward with the mask requirement.

"I sincerely wish we didn't have to do this again," Bettigole said. "I wish this pandemic was over just as much as any of you, but I am very worried about our vulnerable neighbors and loved ones. It is my hope that our actions today will slow the spread of COVID and help us avoid seeing our ERs once again get so crowded that people can't get timely care when they need it."

California's Coachella returns following 2-year COVID-19 hiatus, will have no mask or vaccine requirements to attend massive festival



Coachella, the outdoor music and arts festival held in Indio, California, will return in April after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus — and without mask and vaccine requirements.

Organizers on Tuesday also said that festivalgoers will also not have to test for COVID-19 ahead of the big event.

Headliners this year include Kanye West, Billie Eilish, and Harry Styles.

What are the details?

A portion of the Coachella website says, "There is no guarantee, express or implied, that those attending the festival will not be exposed to Covid-19."

"All attendees agree to follow festival policies (including health and safety policies) and posted instructions while at the festival," organizer guidance continues. "According to the CDC, older adults and people of all ages with serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk of death or severe illness from COVID-19. All attendees should evaluate their risk in determining whether to attend the festival."

Organizers added that the COVID-19 policies may be subject to change "in accordance with applicable public health conditions."

The California Department of Public Health recently issued updated guidelines stating that proof of vaccination will no longer be required for large outdoor events.

The annual festival in the past has drawn crowds of nearly 125,000 people per day over a period of two weekends, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, making it one of the biggest music festivals of the pre-pandemic era.

The outlet pointed out that the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, Illinois, ran at full capacity for four days in 2021's summer and drew crowds of 400,000. Attendees at the time were required to show either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. Infection rates, however, in the days and weeks following the outdoor festival were said to be "very low" at the time.

What else?

A spokesperson for the Stagecoach festival — a country music festival that also takes place in Indio later in April — announced that it, too, will no longer have any COVID-19-related mandates for entry, NBC News reported on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Stagecoach Twitter account tweeted, "Festival Admission Update: As we prepare to spend an incredible weekend in the desert together we are announcing that there will be no vaccination, testing or masking requirements at Stagecoach 2022, in accordance with local guidelines."

Festival Admission Update: As we prepare to spend an incredible weekend in the desert together we are announcing that there will be no vaccination, testing or masking requirements at Stagecoach 2022, in accordance with local guidelines. Visit http://www.stagecoachfestival.com\u00a0 for more infopic.twitter.com/wy4VzOTPBU
— Stagecoach Festival (@Stagecoach Festival) 1644949921

Virginia Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit challenging school mask mandate opt-out



The Supreme Court of Virginia has tossed out a case challenging Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's executive order allowing parents to opt their children out of school mask mandates.

The court dismissed the lawsuit brought forth by a group of parents in Chesapeake without ruling on the legality of Youngkin's order. Those parents had asked the court to block the governor's executive order before it goes into effect on Jan. 24, arguing that state law requires each school board to implement guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "to the maximum extent practicable,' WRIC-TV reports.

But the justices rejected the lawsuit on procedural grounds. The court said that the relief requested by petitioners, called a writ of mandamus, did not apply in this case.

“Absent an explicit command that Governor Youngkin take definite positive action in conformity with a mandatory and ministerial duty, mandamus cannot control or restrict his effort to influence school masking requirements, even if such effort is unlawful,” the justices wrote.

In a statement, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares celebrated the ruling as a victory for parents.

“Today, the Supreme Court of Virginia rejected a challenge out of the City of Chesapeake to Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order Number 2. The Governor and I are pleased with today’s ruling. At the beginning of this pandemic, Governor Northam used his broad emergency powers to close places of worship, private businesses, and schools and impose a statewide mask mandate," Miyares said.

"Nearly two years later, we have better risk mitigation strategies and vaccines, and we know much more about the efficacy of requiring children to wear masks all day. We agree with the Court’s decision and will continue to defend the Executive Order. This is a victory for Virginia families,” he added.

The decision follows a lower court ruling in which a judge in the Arlington Circuit Court granted seven school districts a temporary restraining order blocking the executive order. In that case, the judge said that school boards have the authority to decide what steps are necessary and practicable to keep students and faculty safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the governor cannot override their decisions.

Kevin Martingayle, an attorney representing the Chesapeake parents, said in a statement that the Supreme Court's opinion was merely a procedural defeat and that the fight against Youngkin's order is "far from over."

Youngkin enacted the executive order on his first day in office, keeping a campaign promise he had made to give parents and their children a choice about wearing masks. Some school districts abandoned mask mandates after he issued the order, while others have resisted and challenged the governor in court.

It happened again: John Kerry disregards Biden administration's mask rules at Boston airport



White House special envoy on climate John Kerry was caught flouting the Biden administration's mask requirements at an airport for the second time this year, photos reported by the Washington Free Beacon show.

In the photos, Kerry can be seen going through security at the Boston Logan International Airport without wearing a mask. The photographs were taken at 11:41 a.m. Monday.

The Transportation Security Administration requires all Americans, even those who are vaccinated, to wear face coverings across all transportation networks in the United States, including at airports, onboard planes, on buses, and on trains. The face mask requirement went into effect Feb. 1 and was extended by President Joe Biden's administration through Sept. 13.

Anyone found to be in violation of the mask requirements is supposed to face fines of at least $250 and as much as $1,500 for repeat offenders.

This is the second time Kerry has been caught violating the federal government's order, apparently without consequence. In March, a maskless Kerry was photographed on an American Airlines flight. Kerry was widely criticized for breaking the rules and American Airlines released a statement claiming the airline would be "looking into" the incident.

Kerry eventually responded to his critics on social media, calling the uproar "malarkey" and claiming that "If I dropped my mask to one ear on a flight, it was momentary."

The Free Beacon confirmed with Logan Airport is in compliance with the TSA's mandate and masks are required "any time someone is inside the airport or on an aircraft," including when going through security.

The Biden White House, Kerry's office, and the TSA all declined to comment for the Free Beacon's report.

The TSA did state that its mask requirement "remains in effect" on planes and airports and "applies to all passengers, save for those specifically exempted in the security directive." Those exempted include children under the age of 2 or individuals with health issues that would prevent them from wearing face coverings.

Kerry's flagrant disregard for the Biden administration's rules, which every other American must follow, prompted a new round of criticism.

"Why do Biden/Kerry/Harris get to ignore their own made-up arbitrary rules?" Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) asked. "Here's an idea: follow the science, and let regular people follow the 'John Kerry Rules' too. END THE FEDERAL MASK REQUIREMENT FOR VACCINATED PEOPLE ON AIRPLANES! NOW!!"

Why do Biden/Kerry/Harris get to ignore their own made-up arbitrary rules?Here’s an idea: follow the science, and… https://t.co/jRo0yGHrDC

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) 1625784847.0

There are some who want to end the federal government's public transit mask requirements. On Thursday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) announced he would introduce legislation to repeal the requirements for masks on planes.

"Enough! Time to stop this farce and let people travel in peace!" Paul said.

Trader Joe's ditches mask mandate; Walmart, Target, and others keep it for now



Trader Joe's on Friday became the first major U.S. retailer to drop its mask requirement for fully vaccinated customers after the CDC said it was safe for vaccinated Americans to ditch their masks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday issued new guidance that said fully vaccinated Americans are no longer recommended to wear masks indoors or outdoors, except where local regulations or businesses require them. In response, Trader Joe's updated its COVID-19 policies to comport with the CDC's new recommendations.

"We encourage customers to follow the guidance of health officials, including, as appropriate, CDC guidelines that advise customers who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear masks while shopping," the company said.

A spokesperson for Trader Joe's told USA Today that customers will not be required to show proof of vaccination to enter their stores without a mask. Employees are still required to wear masks for the time being.

Other major U.S. retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Home Depot, are still requiring customers to wear masks, even if they have been fully vaccinated.

Target said in a statement the company "will continue to require all of our coronavirus safety measures in all stores, including masks and social distancing" while they review the new CDC guidance.

Walmart credited mask-wearing requirements with mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in its stores in a statement saying the requirements will not be lifted.

"We serve millions of Americans every week and believe our policy of requiring associates and customers to wear masks in our stores has helped protect them during the pandemic, and we're not lifting those measures at this time," the company said.

Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens have elected to keep their mask mandates in place because they provide COVID-19 vaccinations, reasoning that unvaccinated people who come to get the vaccine still have a chance of carrying the virus.

"As a destination for COVID vaccine and testing we have decided to keep our current face covering policy in place for the time being," said Walgreens spokeswoman Emily Hartwig-Mekstan in a statement. "The safety of our team members and customers is our top priority and will continue to guide our decision process."

Labor unions criticized the CDC's new guidance and demanded clarity on how store workers are supposed to enforce the new requirements.

The CDC "fails to consider how it will impact essential workers who face frequent exposure to individuals who are not vaccinated and refuse to wear masks," United Food and Commercial Workers' union President Marc Perrone told USA Today.

Perrone complained that store workers "are still forced to play mask police for shoppers who are unvaccinated and refuse to follow local COVID safety measures" and wondered how they are expected to be "vaccination police" as well.

"Vaccinations are helping us take control of this pandemic, but we must not let our guard down," Perrone said. "As one of America's largest unions for essential workers, UFCW is calling on the CDC and our nation's leaders to clarify how this new policy will be implemented, how essential workers will be protected, and how these workers will protect the communities they serve."