A Data-driven, Dynamic and Flexible Approach to Safely Lifting Mask Mandate: A Proposal

Abstract

The governors of New Jersey, New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware and Oregon announced early in the week of February 7 that select mask mandates in their states would end in two to six weeks. These states together account for 77.9 million Americans, or ~23.5% of the U.S. population, and therefore these changes in policy could have a significant impact on the U.S. economy, as well as education and healthcare systems in each state. As counts of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths decrease, mask mandates should be reassessed. We propose that a data-driven, dynamic and flexible approach may help lift mask mandates safely and facilitate a smooth transition to post-pandemic normalcy.