Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves says un-vaccinated residents should KEEP wearing masks despite joining Texas in dropping mandate: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says U.S. needs 'an off ramp, not a cliff' approach to relaxing rules
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said Sunday that he still encourages people who haven't been vaccinated against coronavirus to wear a face mask, despite dropping the state-wide mask mandate – as Arkansas' governor says the U.S. needs a slower process for easing COVID-related restrictions.
'I don't only recommend it, I encourage it,' Reeves told CNN's 'State of the Union' on Sunday when asked about unvaccinated individuals wearing masks.
'If you have not received the vaccination, and you are going into a large crowd, or if you're going out to dinner, I strongly encourage Mississippians and people across the country to wear a mask, because I believe that it does, in fact, reduce the ability of individuals to spread the virus. No question about that,' Reeves said.
The Republican governor reasoned that his state has seen one of the biggest declines while having one of the best rates of inoculating their citizens.
Reeves and Texas Governor Greg Abbot have faced a slew of backlash for completely repealing their states' mask mandates.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has a different approach than a full stop – establish an 'off ramp' process.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves encouraged his unvaccinated constituents on Sunday to keep wearing face coverings despite him rescinding the mask mandate
Arkansas Governor Asak Hutchinson, who has maintained the mask mandate in his state, says the U.S. needs an 'off-ramp' type easing out of mandates not a 'cliff'
In Arkansas, Hutchinson has relaxed restrictions on businesses reopening, but did not end the mask mandate there
'Why didn't you go along with the governors of your neighboring states, of Texas and Mississippi, which are ending the mask mandate right now?' Fox News' Chris Wallace asked Hutchinson on 'Fox News Sunday'.
'Well, this just reflects that governors can do it different ways,' he started. 'Flexibility, I think, is the model of our states.'
Hutchinson added: 'But for me and Arkansas, I wanted to set a goal and give people hope that we can end the mask mandate if we get to these -- this place and where we feel more comfortable that our hospitalizations are still down, and so we wanted an off-ramp, we didn't want a cliff. I wanted an off-ramp.'
He said at another point during the interview: 'If we see cases and hospitalizations go up, we can reinstate the mask mandate'
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Mississippi without a mask in sight on Friday night after the state lifted their COVID 19 restrictions on March 3.
Oxford, home of Ole Miss, saw people out in full force, eating at restaurants and shopping at stores like the coronavirus pandemic was a distant memory - rather than a virus that has killed more than half a million people and infects tens of thousands on a daily basis.
In Florida, Spring Breakers were also abandoning masks as bikini-clad college students flooded onto beaches and crammed into bars in Miami and Fort Lauderdale to kick of their vacation.
And in Idaho, a group gathered to burn their masks outside of the statehouse in protest of COVID-19 restrictions after other states this week made the decision to ditch mandates and open back up.
A group of children joined their parents, several of whom were armed, as they burned pictures of Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi in the flames, before beging egged into disposing of their surgical masks into the fire.
Joe Biden slammed Mississippi and Texas' decisions to reopen as 'Neanderthal thinking' on Wednesday, warning that big, maskless gatherings would lead to another surge in coronavirus cases and deaths.
Texas is the largest state to lift their mask mandate, despite the fact that over 42,000 in Texas have died of COVID-19.
However, the president has since been criticized for his comment by conservatives including Montana governor Greg Gianforte who complained Biden was 'degrading' himself with 'name-calling.'
Meanwhile, revelers across Mississippi seemed unconcerned by the threat of another COVID-19 surge as they packed into busy bars and clubs for the first time in months.
Many people even went shopping without masks, scenes most of the country would view as foreign a year after the pandemic began.
MISSISSIPPI: Nobody at this bar on Friday night appeared to be wearing a mask, flaunting the previous restrictions in place
MISSISSIPPI: On Friday , Ole Miss students were able to party without restrictions after the state's mask mandate was lifted
IDAHO: A protester tosses a surgical mask into the fire during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on Saturday
IDAHO: Children were egged on by cheers from their parents too dispose of their surgical masks in the fire
IDAHO: Two young attendees watch as an armed protester burns a photo of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
FLORIDA: Corey Falcon, of Baltimore, lifts two women off the ground outside Cafe Ibiza in Fort Lauderdale
FLORIDA: Afternoon partiers crowd into Cafe Ibiza in Ft. Lauderdale on the first weekend of Spring Break
FLORDIA: Miami Beach fire rescue officers help treat a woman who fainted during spring break festivities on Saturday
FLORIDA: Spring Breakers crammed into a bar in Miami Beach on Saturday afternoon during Spring Break
MISSISSIPPI: Pictured is the first maskless wedding in Oxford since the Governor lifted the mask mandate
MISSISSIPPI: One person in this photo decided a mask was a good idea, but everyone else was ready to party without one
MISSISSIPPI: On Thursday, college students at Ole Miss were having a good time on the second night without maskS
FLORIDA: College students celebrate the first weekened of Spring Break in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday
FLORIDA: Maskless college students strolling in Fort Lauderdale on the first weekend on Spring Break
IDAHO: A child tosses a surgical mask into a fire during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on Saturday
IDAHO: A counter protester walks through an unmasked crowd during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse
MISSISSIPPI: The Square in downtown Oxford on Saturday, the first weekend the mask mandate has been lifted in Mississippi
MISSISSIPPI: Shoppers in Oxford were put in full force on Saturday with not a mask insight
In total, there have been at least 296,000 COVID-19 cases and 6,783 deaths in Mississippi since the onset of the pandemic.
On Friday, Mississippi reported 576 new cases and 22 new deaths.
Mississippi will maintain their 50 percent capacity restriction on indoor arenas and keep their current rules in place for K-12 schools.
Elsewhere in Idaho, protests against mask mandates were held across the state on Saturday as angered residents push back against the continuing restrictions.
IDAHO: Young attendees toss surgical masks into a fire during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse
IDAHO: A protester displays a surgical mask reading Biden Sucks during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse
IDAHO: Idaho Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin speaks during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse
IDAHO: Idaho Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin speaks during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse
At least a hundred people gathered at the front of the Idaho Capitol to burn masks in a protest against measures taken to limit infections and deaths caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Videos posted on social media showed adults encouraging children to toss masks into a fire. Some of the masks were branded with criticism of Biden while one person was seen burning a picture of the president himself.
One video, which has been viewed more than 2.6million times, showed one adult shouting 'all at once' at the children before more started cheering and dozens of masks were thrown into the fire.
'Destroy them,' another person said.
The children were heard saying 'Feed them to the fire' and 'We don't want them in our lives'.
'I will not self-suffocate,' signs at the protest read.
'No masks, no mandates. Our face, our mind,' said another, while one quoted Benjamin Franklin stating: 'Those who give up liberty to purchase safety deserve neither liberty or safety.'
'We're standing here today to rein back government. To reestablish our Republican form of government, a government that has balance between the branches,' said Daar Moon, a protest organizer, in a Twitter video. 'It's a widespread grassroots movement, an uprising in that regard, it's come off very well today here in Boise.'
IDAHO: An attendee collects surgical masks to throw in a fire ahead of the protest
IDAHO: An armed protester hangs a banner reading 'Wu Flu' at the Idaho Statehouse
IDAHO: Two young attendees listen to speakers at mask burning event against COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday
IDAHO: Idaho Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin was among several state lawmakers who came out to protest
IDAHO: Attendees toss surgical masks into a fire as they demonstarted against COVID-19 restrictions
At least three lawmakers from the state legislature and the Lt. Gov Janice McGeachin were there to cheer the crowds on.
At one point the group was asked by police to put out the fire as it was not allowed on state grounds but the protesters told the cops to leave.
'During the event, an open flame was ignited in a barrel,' a police spokesperson told Business Insider.
'Those involved with the event were informed both before and during the event that open flames are not allowed on State Capitol grounds. The incident is under review.'
Republican Gov. Brad Little has never issued a statewide mask mandate, but seven counties and 11 cities have such mandates in place.
Visitors to the Capitol are asked to wear masks, but they're not required and few Republican lawmakers wear them.
A Republican lawmaker on Wednesday introduced legislation to prohibit mask mandates.
More than 170,000 Idaho residents have been infected with the virus, and nearly 1,900 have died.
FLORIDA: A woman talks to a waiter as he serves her a mimosa drink during spring break festivities in Miami Beach
FLORIDA: Spring Breaker ditched masks as they dined out in Miami Beach on Saturday
FLORIDA: Beach bars were rammed by Saturday afternoon on the first weekend of Spring Break
FLORIDA: Police tell partygoers that there is no alcohol allowed on the beach in Fort Lauderdale
MISSISSIPPI: Students, families and Oxford residents enjoy a sunny day in Oxford as the mask mandate was lifted
MISSISSIPPI: The bars in downtown Oxford were packed with students shoulder to shoulder drinking and partying
MISSISSIPPI: The Square in Oxford Saturday afternoon, the first weekend the mask mandate has been lifted in Mississippi
MISSISSIPPI: No masks were seen as families dined indoors in Mississippi on Saturday
MISSISSIPPI: A wedding party is seen having their photos made on the Square in downtown Oxford Saturday afternoon, the first weekend the mask mandate has been lifted in Mississippi as residents get out to cekebrate
MISSISSIPPI: Shoppers out without masks in Oxford on Saturday afternoon
In Florida, where a mask mandate continues, officials continued to try to enforce extra restrictions as the first weekend of Spring Break started off, but it wasn't enough to stop hoardes of skantily clad college students from abandoning their face coverings to party in vacation hotspots such as Miami in Fort Lauderdale.
The first of the partygoers kicked off the month of festivities on Friday night and raged over to Saturday afternoon, with beach hotspots crowded with young maskless groups.
One beach bar, The Wharf, had banned out of state residents who are under 23 years old for the month of March in an effort to curb rowdy behaviour but others welcomed in the swathes of Spring Breakers.
The city has installed steel barriers between bars in an effort to force the college students to maintain sociaol distancing while Miami Beach is enforcing a midnight curfew and clamping down on alcohol and boom boxes on the beach.
Some Spring Breakers were already looking worse for wear by Saturday with Miami Beach fire rescue officers forced to come to the aid of a woman who had fainted by the afternoon.
FLORIDA: Beachgoers flock to South Beach during Spring Break in Miami Beach on Saturday
MISSISSIPPI: The mask mandate was lifted in Mississippi on March 3, so March 5 was the first Friday night full of partying
MISSISSIPPI: People took to the streets of Mississippi without a mask in sight on Friday night
MISSISSIPPI: People in Oxford, Mississippi went to lunch inside on Friday afternoon, with only servers typically wearing mask
MISSISSIPPI: Some in Oxford are continuing to wear masks, despite the mask restrictions being lifted in Mississippi
TEXAS: Pictured, people in Austin, Texas exit a bar on Thursday night, with some still choosing to wear a mask
Montana has also rescinded their mask mandate via a directive issued on February 12, while simultaneously encouraging residents to continue wearing masks and making responsible decisions.
Gov. Gianforte argued on Fox & Friends that a 'one-size-fits-all' mandate doesn't make sense, which is likely why he repealed it for his state.
Cases have been declining in Montana, with just 143 new cases reported on Friday. Hospitalizations are also low in the state, with just 63 people actively hospitalized headed into the weekend.
Biden had pleaded with states to keep restrictions until America could achieve heard immunity.
'I hope everybody's realized by now these masks make a difference,' Biden said.
'We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because of the way we're able to get vaccines in people's arms.
'The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime everything's fine, take off your mask, forget it.'
MISSISSIPPI: People in Oxford, Mississippi enjoying a night out with few masks in sight two days after restrictions were lifted
MISSISSIPPI: Police at the ready in Oxford, Mississippi with few masks in sight two days after restrictions were lifted
MISSISSIPPI: People in Oxford, Mississippi enjoying a night out with few masks in sight two days after restrictions were lifted
MISSISSIPPI: People in Oxford, Mississippi headed to the club with few masks in sight two days after restrictions were lifted
MISSISSIPPI: A kid in Oxford gets a view inside of a bar two days after restrictions were lifted in Mississippi
Earlier this week, Gov. Gianforte tweeted in response to Biden, saying 'If making data-driven decisions to reopen, loving freedom, and trying to get back to normal is what a Neanderthal would do, then well, I guess you can count me as one.'
During his interview with Doocy, Gov. Gianforte expressed his excitement about the direction of his state: 'Montana is open for business, we're getting back to normal.'
He admitted, however, that the state is 'not out of the woods yet.'
MISSISSIPPI: Grocery shopping can take place without masks in the state of Mississippi with the pandemic restrictions lifted
MISSISSIPPI: Hand sanitizer is available for diners in Mississippi, but people are eating indoors without wearing masks
Gov. Gianforte called out Joe Biden on Fox & Friends for his 'Neanderthal thinking' comment earlier in the week
Joe Biden said it was 'Neanderthal thinking' to have states drop their mask mandates, which Texas and Mississippi have done
In total, Montana has had 100,842 cases of COVID-19, with 1,381 people dying from the virus.
Over 300,000 vaccine doses have been administered in Montana so far, with 112,111 people fully immunized.
Gov. Gianforte is far from the first Republican politician to call out Biden for his 'Neanderthal' comment.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called Biden a 'hypocrite' in an interview with Fox News on Thursday.
Fox News reports Florida Sen. Marco Rubio suggested Biden 'seek training on the unconscious bias.'
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden only made his comments out of 'frustration and exasperation.'
MISSISSIPPI: People in Oxford, Mississippi, many college students, enjoying a night out with few masks in sight two days after restrictions were lifted
MISSISSIPPI: People in Oxford, Mississippi walk by a police vehicle sight two days after restrictions were lifted
MISSISSIPPI:: Diners in Oxford, Mississippi enjoying a night at the Graduate Hotel two days after restrictions were lifted
MISSISSIPPI: Diners in Oxford, Mississippi enjoying a night at the Graduate Hotel two days after restrictions were lifted
MISSISSIPPI: Shopper in Oxford, Mississippi walking around the grocery store two days after restrictions were lifted
TEXAS: With the mask mandate set to end in Texas in the coming days, people have had no issue going out without one
TEXAS: On Thursday night, some people were lined up just to get into clubs, though many were still wearing masks
MISSISSIPPI: At Larsons Cashsaver, many were shopping without masks, unheard of across much of the country this year
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