All States With Democratic Governors Now Have Mask Mandates, But Most With Republicans Don’t

TOPLINE

Every state that has a Democratic governor has now issued a mask mandate, with Wisconsin the last to join after Gov. Tony Evers issued one Thursday, even as a vast majority of states with Republican governors are still refusing to put statewide requirements in place.

KEY FACTS

CRITICAL QUOTE

“We believe if the governors and mayors of every locality right now would mandate masks for their communities and every American would wear a mask, and socially distance, and not congregate in large settings where you can’t socially distance or wear a mask, that we can really get control of this virus and drive down cases,” Dr. Deborah Birx said on Fox & Friends Thursday.

KEY BACKGROUND

Coronavirus deaths in the U.S. are spiking even as indicators for increased coronavirus spread seem to level off. Deaths tend to lag behind other metrics, though, and the spike comes after weeks of rises in cases and hospitalizations. On Wednesday, the U.S. officially reached 150,000 coronavirus deaths through the course of the pandemic so far. 

TANGENT

In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, hasn’t issued a mask mandate, and doesn’t want localities to issue one, either. But Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, issued a citywide mask mandate on July 8. In response, Kemp is suing Bottoms, claiming she overstepped her authority.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Though Evers issued the order Thursday, Wisconsin’s mask mandate will not go into effect until Saturday.

FURTHER READING

Over 230 Million Americans Now Live With A Public Mask Mandate (Forbes)

19 States Still Don’t Mandate Masks. 18 Are Run By Republican Governors. (Forbes)

Trump Calls Mask Wearing ‘Patriotic,’ Tweets Photo Wearing One (Forbes)

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Sues Atlanta Mayor To Rescind City’s Mask Requirement (Forbes)

Another Grim Milestone: U.S. Records 150,000 Coronavirus Deaths (Forbes)

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers issues statewide mask mandate effective Saturday (Capital Times)

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