Thread by @weareoversight

Even while coronavirus variants circulate, many states have opted to abandon their public health measures and move toward fully reopening businesses. We’re investigating various states’ reopening policies.
americanoversight.org/investigation/…

By mid-February, CDC data showed that more than 1,500 cases of coronavirus variants had been reported in the U.S., with the more contagious B117 strain present in 41 states D.C. Health officials made it clear that the country was in a race between variants and vaccinations.

Yet many states still chose to end important health measures. On March 2, Texas Gov. Abbott ended the state’s mask mandate, a decision made without the input of all of his medical advisers. Mississippi, Iowa, Montana, and North Dakota also dropped mask mandates.

Other states eased restrictions that had ensured social distancing: Arkansas and Massachusetts ended indoor dining capacity limits, while Maryland, Connecticut, West Virginia and Arizona ended indoor capacity limits on most businesses, including gyms and restaurants.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 continued to spread. At the end of March, the U.S. saw a 16 percent increase in new Covid-19 cases. By the beginning of April, the CDC announced that the B117 variant had become the dominant Covid-19 strain in the U.S.

We’re investigating the disparate state responses to the evolving virus. We’ve sent public records requests to Missouri, Florida, Georgia, and Idaho asking for communications related to legislation protecting businesses.

And in Texas, we’ve sent requests to Governor Abbott’s office and the state’s department of health for communications and impact analyses regarding the repeal of mask mandates. Learn more here:
americanoversight.org/investigation/…