Mask Mandate Cancelled

It’s been a great few weeks for our COVID-19 numbers. Your work and your efforts have made a true difference. We’ve cut our average new cases in half. And our hospitalizations are a third of what they once were. It’s been a turbulent summer, but we’re out the other side of that deadly wave.

We fought that summer wave without shutting down any businesses. We opened schools and had sports. We took a lot of heat for refusing to shut down bars and schools, but it was the right decision. We took a targeted approach, and we’ve been able to fight through.

I have always tried to stress the important balance of this time: we cannot allow our system to collapse, and we should not use the heavy-hand of government more than it is justified. We have to tailor our actions to the current threat, and make sure that they do not go beyond what is reasonable.

For the last several weeks, we have had a statewide mask mandate as we managed through the worst of the worst times—when hospitals were overwhelmed and cases were rocketing up. Today, the current COVID-19 executive order and the mask mandate are set to expire.

I am signing a new, limited executive order which extends some of our measures to prevent rampant COVID-19 transmission. We have to make sure that we do not go back to the dangerous times of serious hospital capacity issues. I am not extending the statewide mask mandate.

I still believe masks work. I think the facts bear that out. I’ll still wear one, and I expect that most people will still wear them often. It’s the wise thing to do. There is a difference between something being wise, and something being a government mandate. We have to reserve that for the most critical, dangerous moments.

As a general rule, guidelines are better than mandates. We need to trust the people of this country to look after themselves and make wise decisions. Personal responsibility is what this nation was founded on. It’s what makes America unique, and it’s why we’re the greatest country in the history of mankind.

Our new order keeps some limitations on large gatherings at bars, parties, and stadiums. It’s largely consistent with where we’ve been—although several of the limitations on outdoor events were increased. We’ll still have mask requirements at schools, and for a few professions where there is the greatest risk for super-spreading. We have to keep our kids in school. It is critical.

In fact, I would urge schools that have been closed to open back up. It can be done safely. That’s been proven. There is no excuse to continue forcing parents to be full-time teachers.

Mississippi is open. I’m grateful for everything you’re doing to make that safe. Keep looking out for your loved ones, and keep praying for our state and our country. The need for that will never expire.