The rising Covid-19 cases across the country aren't resulting in local mask mandates coming back, as officials in multiple Democratic-leaning cities said in recent days they have no plans to bring back Covid-19 restrictions even as they recommend people voluntarily mask up.

US-LIFESTYLE-STREET

A man wearing a mask rides a city bike in New York City.

AFP via Getty Images

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Monday that the city is not at the point of mandating masks or requiring proof of vaccinations.

People are encouraged to wear masks in indoor settings.

The city of Boston doesn't change its protocols to require masks, but still recommends people wear them, according to the mayor.

The city of Worcester, Massachusetts, imposed a mask advisory on Friday, but only encourages people to wear masks.

A group of health officials in California's Bay Area, including San Francisco, issued a joint statement on Friday with their continued support for people to mask up indoors and follow other precautions.

It is a good time for people who haven't been wearing masks to do so.

The Marin County, California, Health Officer told SFGATE that there is something in between a mandate and a world where nobody is covering their faces.

What To Watch For

If there comes a time when our hospitals are in a state of emergency, and my, we could possibly mandate masks in the future.

Contra

Even if their broader communities have not, some school districts have started reimposing mask mandates in recent weeks.

Big Number

90,337. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the new Covid-19 cases in the U.S. have increased from approximately 36,000 in mid-April.

Key Background

Even as studies have found that mask mandates are effective at controlling Covid-19 transmission, they have been a source of controversy throughout the Pandemic. The threshold for when people are free to take their masks off is lower now that the CDC has changed its guidelines. A federal judge overturned the CDC's federal mask mandate last month, causing airlines and other travel companies to immediately drop their mask requirements. Philadelphia was the only major city to reimpose a mask mandate in April as Covid-19 cases started rising again, but the city abandoned the order just three days later amid a public outcry.

N.Y.C. does not require people to wear masks indoors. The New York Times.

There has been an increase in carbon dioxide cases in Boston.

Bay Area health officers recommend masking indoors.

Covid is going up again. The San Francisco Bay Area is not doing mandates. The SF Gate.