Democratic governors in several states ease mask mandates, though White House is sticking with stricter guidance

Democratic governors in several states are rolling back mask mandates, getting ahead of Biden administration guidance that still call for masking in schools and many other indoor spaces. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Delaware Governor John Carney and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont on Monday all announced some rollback of indoor masking requirements. As the Omicron COVID-19 variant appears to wane, California is soon lifting its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated individuals, Delaware will also end its indoor mask mandate, and New Jersey and Connecticut are dropping universal school masking requirements. 

COVID-19 transmission is still high in most of California and Connecticut, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, Newsom says new cases have fallen by 65% in his state, and Connecticut's cases have also dropped off dramatically. Controlling the spread of the virus may also get a boost from expanding vaccine eligibility to children under the age of five, which could happen by the end of February.