'It May Save Your Life' - As COVID-19 Cases Rise, More US States Make Wearing Mask Mandatory

California, North Carolina and other US states have pushed for mandatory mask use to combat the out of control coronavirus cases. At least six states have set daily records, according to a report in Reuters.

Individual rights and political unpopularity have been sidelines as US governors and mayors said they are face coverings compulsory to stop things from getting out of hand as the country restarted after lockdown.

On a day when Florida posted 3,207 new cases, its second daily record in a week, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings ordered obligatory mask use, telling residents of Orlando and other cities it would help them avoid a second shutdown.

Reuters

Cases are rising

California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered mask use in most places as the state for the second day in a row registered over 4,000 new cases.

As Arizona posted another daily case record, the Democratic mayors of Tucson and Phoenix respectively ordered and prepared to vote on mandatory face coverings after Republican Governor Doug Ducey bowed to pressure and let cities set mask rules.

"This piece of protection may even save your life," North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper told reporters, adding that he was considering statewide obligatory mask use on a day when statewide Covid-19 hospitalizations set a new high.

A month after many governors reopened their economies, a growing number are adopting US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance that masks are essential to prevent community spread.

Reuters

Masks are a must

Resistance to face masks took on a partisan edge after President Donald Trump opposed them, telling the Wall Street Journal in an interview published on Thursday that some people wear them to show opposition to him.

But with businesses ranging from Las Vegas casinos to hardware chains requiring their use, masks are becoming commonplace in the United States.

In Texas, the mayors of the state¡¯s nine biggest cities asked Republican Governor Greg Abbott this week to grant them authority to set mask regulations.

Reuters

As Oklahoma reported its second day of record coronavirus cases, the Tulsa arena hosting a Trump rally on Saturday said it would encourage all attendees to remain masked throughout the event and issue staff with personal protective gear.

Trump has pushed ahead with the rally - which would be the biggest US indoor social gathering in three months - even as health experts worry assembling thousands of people inside an arena - particularly if many are not wearing masks - could turn it into a virus "super-spreader event."

Nationwide, Covid-19 cases rose by 26,357 on Thursday to about 2.2 million, according to a Reuters tally, marking the biggest daily increase in nearly two weeks. There have been 118,377 US deaths, an increase of 684 on Thursday.