On March 5, 2021 Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced that due to a drop in COVID rates in the state, physical distancing and mask protocols will remain in place, however restaurants, gyms, theaters, water parks, bowling alleys, and bars providing dine in services are now allowed to be open to full capacity. Spring Training and Major League Sports will have the ability to operate upon submission and approval of a plan to the Arizona Department of Health Services that demonstrates implementation of safety precautions and physical distancing.
A few days prior, business operators in Austin and throughout Central Texas expressed a mix of uncertainty, anger and relief after their Governor announced the lifting of Texas’s mask mandate and allowing businesses to return to 100% capacity beginning March 10. Although some people have expressed their relief on the matter, a majority of people seem to be unhappy with the decision. Two groups on Monday are holding a rally at the state Capitol in Austin against Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent order. Protesters are asking the governor not to relax the mask mandate until 70% of the state’s essential workers are vaccinated.
As far as the vaccine goes, more and more Americans have been able to get the vaccine as it has become more easily available. The CDC has released guidance for those who have gotten the vaccine saying that people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 may now safely gather with small groups from other households without wearing masks or physical distancing, even if those people have not yet had their vaccine. This is a huge improvement considering this is the first public health guidance aimed at resuming life as normal. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the final dose, giving the body time to build antibodies against the virus so the process is still mildly time consuming however this is still exciting news. For the first time in a year, fully vaccinated grandparents may visit unvaccinated healthy adult children and healthy grandchildren without masks or physical distancing. Although there is still a long way to go, a life of normalcy is finally in sight again.
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