The governor described the new plan he released last week as a more sensible and sustainable approach that would lead the state out of crisis mode.
His comments on MSNBC followed an announcement from state officials last week about a plan which would prioritize strategies like coronaviruses vaccine and stockpiling supplies while easing away from emergency response measures like mask mandates.
A year and a half ago, we had a war metaphor and we were hoping there would be a ticker-tape parade. This plan sets out a course to do it sustainable.
The surge in California was caused by the Omicron variant. The state has seen a decline in infections, but new cases are still high. According to a New York Times database, the coronaviruses has killed more than 84,000 people in the US and at least 1 in 5 Californians.
Hawaii is the last state to hold onto a statewide mandate, as California and many other states have loosened masking requirements in recent weeks. Upcoming changes have not been announced by Puerto Rico.
There are no new recommendations that reflect the lifting of restrictions in nearly every state and the US path in the next phase remains complicated.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said last week that they need to remain vigilant so that infections continue their promising decline. She said the C.D.C would soon be releasing new guidelines that would suggest adjusting restrictions based on factors like hospital capacity, not just case counts.
Many people are vulnerable despite the changes and feel left behind. More than seven million adults in the United States are considered to be immunocompromised, meaning they have diseases or are receiving treatments that reduce their ability to fight infections. More than 100 million people have other conditions that put them at greater risk for death or severe illness.
California's new plan emphasizes the need to continue to promote vaccines while ensuring surge staffing, fighting disinformation, and increasing wastewater and genomic tracking. The mask requirements would be subject to change based on the severity of the infections.
Mr. Newsom acknowledged the fatigue felt by people because of the changing rules and policies. Everybody is tired. We are also a little bit anxious. He asked what the future would hold.
California's new policy was based on a two-month review of best practices across the world. He stressed the need to be vigilant in the face of a virus that could change in unexpected ways.
Even though he had lifted mask mandates and other restrictions last summer, Colorado's governor emphasized the uncertainty of what could be around the corner on CNN on Sunday. He highlighted the protection offered by booster shots, which dramatically decrease the risk of severe illness, when asked why more governors were doing so now.
In Colorado, 92 percent of residents 65 and older are fully vaccined, as compared to 89 percent in California.
I think it's important that we prepare for an uncertain future. I hope the federal government is also.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
