The Virginia Senate Republican Caucus issued a statement via Twitter on Friday urging Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to end the state-wide mask mandate.
The statement follows updated guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that allows vaccinated individuals to no longer wear a mask indoors.
“Yesterday’s announcement by the Centers for Disease Control confirms what the science has indicated for months: there is no benefit in making those who are fully vaccinated wear a mask, either indoors or outdoors. We call on Governor Northam to conform the Commonwealth’s guidance to that of the CDC’s by immediately rescinding his mask mandate. It’s time for Virginians who have been vaccinated to breathe freely once again,” the statement read.
We call on Governor Northam to conform the Commonwealth’s guidance to that of the CDC’s by immediately rescinding his mask mandate. It’s time for Virginians who have been vaccinated to breathe freely once again. pic.twitter.com/XizLb3sdUk
— VA Senate GOP (@VASenateGOP) May 14, 2021
Many Republican state lawmakers have been outspoken about the need to repeal the state-wide mask mandate.
State Senator Bill DeSteph (R- Virginia Beach) added in a tweet addressed to the Governor, “Let’s #followthescience and lift the mask mandates for vaccinated Virginians as the @CDCgov has recommended.”
@GovernorVA – let’s #followthescience and lift the mask mandates for vaccinated Virginians as the @CDCgov has recommended. #OpenVirginia
— Senator Bill DeSteph (@BillDeSteph) May 14, 2021
The lifted regulation recommendation from the CDC has allowed multiple states and cities to alter their restrictions and end mask mandates. However, Governor Northam has only promised to “review” the current measures that are still in place and the new recommendations from the federal government.
“Ultimately this reinforces the importance of getting vaccinated. Vaccines are our pathway out of this pandemic, and they are how we can all get back to doing what we love,” a spokesperson for the governor said.
Individuals across the state have continued to receive vaccines — in addition to the over 3 million Virginians who have already been fully vaccinated. Further, cases have been consistently declining for weeks in Virginia and across the entire United States.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
