Washington, DC, to end vaccine, mask mandates

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: The Hill

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced Monday that the city will end its requirement for people entering businesses to show proof of vaccination starting this week and will lift its mask mandate for businesses starting on March 1.

Bowser cited a sharp decline in cases in the omicron wave as justification for the loosening of restrictions. The mayor pointed to the protection of vaccines in saying the situation had changed.

"COVID is not as deadly as it was," she said, noting people can now get vaccinated. "Getting vaccinated and boosted, we can't emphasize enough."

The vaccination requirement for people entering businesses like restaurants will end starting Tuesday. That requirement had drawn resistance from some congressional Republicans who rallied behind a neighborhood bar, The Big Board, that defied the mandate.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/washington-dc-to-end-vaccine-mask-mandates/ar-AATQdYV

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Hope it's not premature.

[Walleye]

1. It's getting comical that they're putting so much effort into protesting nonexistent restrictions

[Texaswitchy]

2. Get your arm ready for lots of boosters.

Number 4 coming up.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. I'm supposed to get #3 today

How long does one have to wait for the fourth?

[LisaL]

4. Nobody knows.

Fourth booster hasn't been approved yet. I am getting concerned because its been 6 months since my booster.

[Texaswitchy]

12. I bet we get boosters every six months or so.

No masks and the unvaxed.

[Bleacher Creature]

5. What's the harm in waiting a couple more weeks, just to be sure we're over the hump?

The numbers are dropping fast, but why take the risk until they actually start to get into the safety zone?

[DFW]

6. I'm happy to be back in Europe, then

Here there is still a mask requirement almost everywhere, and you still have to show your vax proof to get into a restaurant, café or bar.

I feel bad for those who will get bad cases of Covid, but more like pity than sympathy for the non-vaxxed.

[Ford_Prefect]

7. At the same time we get a report that the vaccination booster loses efficacy after 4 months.

I know people are trying to do the right things here but THIS IS NOT what to do when you still have hospitals full of the vaccine Refuseniks with COVID and medical staff exhausted from treating them. We made this mistake before of dropping defenses at the first sign of apparent change when it was precisely those defenses which reduced our exposure.

COVID hasn't gone away or gotten to be less of a threat.

According to the best sources we NEED to maintain the precautions for an extended period beyond this. We do not know where the next variant will appear nor how virulent it will be. This

[sakabatou]

8. So, how long until there's another outbreak?

[RussBLib]

9. according to conspiracy nuts

late-Feb/early March.

Stupidity has run amok.

[nitpicker]

11. Actually, that's got a grain of support to that

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0924-booster-recommendations-.html

(In late September, Walensky endorsed the recommendation that 65+, and some younger people with certain medical conditions or in congregate settings, receive boosters.)

In October, Moderna boosters for those groups were endorsed too.

If booster effectiveness drops off after 4-5 months...

Add to that any fallout from Valentine's Day rush-to-restaurants...

[IronLionZion]

10. Damn it

They started too late and are ending it too early. I really enjoyed going out to restaurants knowing that everyone inside was vaccinated. Vaccinated people are generally nicer and better behaved than the others.

Oh well, my work and gym still mandate the vaccine so it shouldn't be too bad.

Of course I'm happy our numbers are way down, but a big part of that was from our city's strict mandates.