Wyoming will rescind its statewide mask requirement and permit bars, restaurants, theaters and gyms to resume normal operations on March 16, Gov. Mark Gordon said in a statement on Monday.
Wyoming only issued a mask mandate a few months ago in December and never had a statewide stay-at-home order, although businesses were restricted, according to The Hill.
The Republican governor urged the state’s residents to continue wearing masks when inside public areas and to follow guidelines adopted by businesses, saying in his statement that “I ask all Wyoming citizens to continue to take personal responsibility for their actions and stay diligent as we look ahead to the warmer months and to the safe resumption of our traditional spring and summer activities.”
Gordon added that mask mandates will remain in K-12 schools “to ensure that classroom learning and all student activities can continue to occur safely.”
The change in guidelines, the specifics of which will be released in a few days, comes amid the state’s “continually improving health metrics and is consistent with the governor’s approach of balancing public health with protecting livelihoods,” the statement reads.
Gordon added that “Wyoming is one of the few states in the country that kept students learning in the classroom for the entire school year.”
Numerous states have recently rolled back coronavirus restrictions, including mask mandates. Last week President Joe Biden harshly criticized the governors of Texas and Mississippi for almost completely reopening, calling the decision “Neanderthal thinking.”
Source: Newmax
