Day 12: Nationwide Mandate on Masks

A nationwide mandate on masks goes into effect tonight in one of Biden’s most heavy-handed moves since taking office. His first week or so was mostly spent signing Orders to reverse or at least pause what may be considered some of former president Trump’s most divisive actions.

Signed his first day in office, the mask Order focuses on mask-wearing, hygiene and social distancing etiquette while on federal property; establishes a Safer Federal Workforce Task Force comprised of several heads of agencies, including the Director of Federal Protective Services and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and encourages “masking across America.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Transportation Security Administration responded in-kind, implementing a streamlined policy from the federal level for all transportation and hubs (ferries, planes, trains, subways, taxis, ride shares, buses…) that previously had been muddled with varying input from state and local leaders.

In other optimistic news, the Congressional Budget Office announced the U.S. GDP (gross domestic product) is on trajectory to return to pre-pandemic levels by summer, with or without the anticipated Biden relief plan that includes an additional $1400 for eligible individuals to match last year’s $600 stimulus check. Unemployment is expected to return to “normalcy” in 2024.

With a “stimmy,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, 7.5 million more jobs could be added more immediately.

Photo by Anna Shvets