Despite the absence of extensive COVID-19 mandates in the US, Republicans are still issuing warnings about their potential implementation.
Republicans are expressing concerns that government-imposed lockdowns and mask mandates may be implemented as Americans face a surge in COVID-19 cases and await the distribution of a new vaccine.
Some of the leading Republican candidates for president have been discussing this topic frequently. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida expressed his concern that people are moving towards implementing COVID-19 restrictions and emphasized the need for resistance. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina shared online that the “radical Left” aims to reinstate school closures and mandates. Additionally, former President Donald Trump urged Republican members of Congress to prevent the Biden administration from reintroducing any form of COVID-19 mandates, lockdowns, or restrictions.
“I cannot reword”
While some individual schools and colleges have implemented temporary mask requirements, there is no sign that anyone in federal or state leadership is considering widespread COVID-19 restrictions, requirements or mask mandates. The administrations of several Democratic governors denied that any such moves are even under discussion. The overriding sentiment is to leave the decisions to individuals.
Christi Peace, spokesperson for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, stated that the Murphy administration is not contemplating any COVID-19 public health restrictions or mask mandates.
Jodi McGinnis Porter, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Public Health, stated that there are currently no plans for imposing widespread lockdowns or mandating masks in New Mexico.
Democratic governors’ offices in various states, including Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Oregon, provided similar responses when asked if they were considering any COVID-19 mandates.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is a member of the Democratic party, expressed his disagreement with COVID-19 lockdowns, mask mandates, and vaccine mandates during his campaign last year. He stated that he believed school and business shutdowns were a mistake. His office reiterated this stance when responding to the AP this week, stating that they believe there is no necessity to enforce restrictions.
The state health departments in California and New York, which are the two most populous Democratic-led states, suggest getting the updated vaccine but do not enforce any obligations for receiving the shot or wearing masks. When questioned during a news conference on Wednesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul was asked if she would contemplate implementing mandates for masks or vaccines. She responded, “Currently, we are experiencing low numbers and therefore do not deem it necessary to enforce such measures.”
Elisabeth Shephard, spokesperson for Oregon’s Democratic governor, Tina Kotek, noted that the federal public health emergency for the virus outbreak ended in May.
She stated that there are no discussions about COVID-19 lockdowns and mask mandates at the moment, and the governor does not intend to implement these measures.
However, the Republicans have found the misleading storyline to be a useful strategy in their attempts to attract voters who perceive Democrats as authoritarian figures aiming to restrict their liberties.
In the past week, the GOP candidates for president have been emphasizing this message, which aligns with the concerns expressed by conservative legislators and far-right commentators over the past month, regarding the potential implementation of oppressive COVID-19 measures.
In August, Alex Jones, a conspiracy theorist, made a statement alleging that an unidentified “high-level manager in the TSA” and a source connected to the Border Patrol informed him that employees of the Transportation Security Administration would be required to wear masks in the near future. Additionally, he mentioned that COVID-19 lockdowns would be reinstated in December.
The claims were deemed “completely untrue” by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, influential Republicans, such as Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, amplified these claims by sharing on X that she had written to the TSA seeking clarification.
Last month, a Black liberal arts college in Atlanta made an announcement that it had implemented a temporary mask requirement due to student infections. In response to this, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, shared on X that “Americans are tired of the excessive concern over COVID. We refuse to follow these rules!”
Morris Brown College has removed the requirement, but it continues to enforce other policies such as contact tracing and temperature checks on campus.
Conservatives have expressed their concerns regarding President Joe Biden’s remarks about the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, resulting in more hospitalizations and deaths across the country. However, it is important to note that these numbers are significantly lower compared to previous waves.
“I actually approved this morning a proposal that we need to present to Congress, requesting extra funding for a new vaccine that is essential and effective,” Biden informed reporters while visiting South Lake Tahoe. “Although it has not been finalized yet, it is tentatively suggested that everyone should receive the vaccine, regardless of their prior vaccination status.”
The CDC has given its approval for the new shots to be administered to individuals aged 6 months and above. These vaccines will be accessible at pharmacies, health centers, and certain doctor offices starting from this week.
However, the Biden administration has no intention of enforcing any fresh vaccine or mask requirements, as stated by an anonymous White House official discussing the administration’s stance.
Reinstated mask requirements across the country have so far been limited to a handful of local schools and businesses. One example is a Maryland elementary school that required students who were exposed in a classroom’s outbreak to wear masks at school for 10 days.
However, these individual actions have caused anger among conservatives who have utilized them to rally their followers.
Last week, Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio introduced the “Freedom to Breathe Act,” a proposed law that aims to prevent the federal government from enforcing mask requirements on domestic flights, public transportation, and schools. However, his request for unanimous approval of the bill was unsuccessful. Democratic Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts criticized it as a distraction tactic used by the GOP to prioritize political tactics over the well-being of individuals.
Greene, the Republican from Georgia, introduced a companion bill in the House. She has said she won’t vote to avoid a government shutdown unless the government ends coronavirus mandates, which have already largely been reversed.
According to experts on misinformation, Republicans have a deliberate approach when making alarming statements about future mandates. They aim to evoke the negative emotions that voters experienced at the beginning of the pandemic and link them to Democrats.
“I cannot reword”
Meanwhile, some of the Republican-led states where state leaders are railing against COVID-19 measures have been the hardest hit by the recent surge. Data shows Mississippi had the highest COVID-19 death rate per 10,000 people in the last week of August.
Earlier in the week, the Republican governor of the state, Tate Reeves, made a commitment to oppose any extensive limitations. He expressed on social media that the state would prioritize self-governance rather than being dictated by fear from higher authorities.
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This report was contributed to by data journalist Nicky Forster from the Associated Press, as well as writers Joey Cappelletti, Mike Catalini, Jill Colvin, John Hanna, Susan Haigh, Maysoon Khan, Seung Min Kim, Steve LeBlanc, Morgan Lee, Marc Levy, Lisa Mascaro, and Andrew Selsky.
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