On Wednesday’s CBS Mornings and Thursday’s NBC TodayShow hosts worried about mask mandates being removed across the nation as COVID figures drop sharply. Jittery anchors feared that the easing of pandemic restrictions “triggers” some people and even suggested they themselves might “wear a mask forever now” in certain settings, like public transportation.
“Should we be dropping the COVID-19-related restrictions, mask mandates, proof of vaccinations, what do you think?” CBS MorningsNate Burleson, cohost of the show, asked Dr. Ashish Jha from Brown University School of Public Health on Wednesday. In response, Dr. Jha advised: “I think mask mandates can definitely get lifted. Vaccine mandates are going to be helpful for the long run….But certainly mask mandates, restrictions on gatherings, I think they can start getting lifted.”
Burleson observed that “the CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, and President Biden both say we should not be lifting the mask mandates,” Jha gently pushed back: “So I appreciate what they’re both saying….My take is things are so much better and heading in the right direction that over the next few weeks I think it’s perfectly reasonable to pull those things back.”
Michelle Miller, fill-in host and medical expert countered by Michelle Miller “But you know, a recent CBS News poll found that most parents believe that kids should be required to wear their masks in school.” Jha reiterated: “It’s lifting of the mandates, meaning if some parents still want to send their kids masked, if kids want to wear a mask, there’s no downside to that. There’s no restriction on that. But I don’t know that we need to be mandating it at this point.”
Tony Dokoupil, the co-host of this show, expressed discomfort at the decision to let go of mandated masks. He also warned that there is a psychological need to cover facial skin.
But what’s happening here, Dr. Jha, is a lot of people are still emotionally – they’re fearful, right? They hear about removing these restrictions, and their body says, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, we remember how bad this was.” So what do you say to people who believe in the science, like you, think you’re an authority, but are like, “I’m just uncomfortable, something triggers me”?
Jha attempted to coddle the nervous journalist while still advocating for an end to mandates: “…if you want to continue wearing a mask for a little bit longer, I think that’s completely reasonable to do. It is up to the government what kind of restrictions they should impose on individuals. In that context, I think lifting those restrictions really does make sense.”
On NBC’s Today show Thursday morning, co-host Savannah Guthrie began a similar discussion with Dr. Jha by noting: “So the question is, is it time to take off those masks? With more states letting mandates expire, the rules across the country are, to put it nicely, a confusing patchwork.”
Hoda, the co-host, has already begun to imagine mask mandates becoming reimposed soon:
Some people say that once you do away with the mask mandate people are going to just say, “Well, those are gone forever.”You’ll find that these are not always the best things. Another surge could soon be on the horizon. Do you think it would be tough to say, “Okay, guys, now we’re going back to masks all over again”?
Guthrie replied shortly thereafter: “There are some places where I think I might wear a mask forever now, such as the subway. I was on a crowded subway the other day and I was happy to have my mask on.”
After endlessly lecturing viewers on the importance of “following the science” throughout the pandemic, the moment one of their trusted medical experts says it’s okay to ease regulations, media figures are still “emotionally” clinging to their masks.
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Below is the transcript from February 16, 2008 exchange CBS Mornings:
8:16 AM ET
(…)
NATE BURLESON – Should COVID-19 be loosened? What about mask mandates and proof of vaccinations?
DR. ASHISH JHA [DEAN OF BROWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH]: Yeah, so we’re first of all in a way better place than we were even a month ago.
BURLESON:
JHA: While infections are down around 80% throughout the country and deaths are falling, they have started to decline. Now is the time to take stock of all these restrictions and decide which ones are really necessary. Mask mandates should be lifted, I believe. Long-term vaccine mandates can be very helpful, keeping everyone vaccinated. So I think that’s a good policy to have. I believe they could be removed, but mask mandates or restrictions on gatherings should not be ignored.
BURLESON – Both Dr. Rochelle Walensky (CDC Director) and President Biden say that we shouldn’t lift the mask mandates. You wonder why they would take that position.
JHA: They are careful. These are the moments we want to be mindful of. So I appreciate what they’re both saying. Infections numbers are still high, they’re coming down, but still high. The number of deaths is still very high. So I think what they’re probably reacting to is let’s wait a little but longer. That I believe I can understand. My take is things are so much better and heading in the right direction that over the next few weeks I think it’s perfectly reasonable to pull those things back.
BURLESON: That’s good news.
MICHELLE MILLER : Yes, exactly. However, CBS News recently conducted a poll and found that the majority of parents think that children should wear their masks to school. This begs the question: How can schools approach this situation?
JHA: Yeah. So I’m a parent and I’m – the way I look at it is if you’re in a community with high vaccination rates, infection numbers are getting low, I think it’s very reasonable to lift mask mandates in schools. It’s lifting of the mandates, meaning if some parents still want to send their kids masked, if kids want to wear a mask, there’s no downside to that. There’s no restriction on that. But I don’t know that we need to be mandating it at this point.
TONY DOKOUPIL: Yeah, you know, I was thinking that Sunday, watching the Super Bowl, that we may look back on that Super Bowl, which felt very normal, I didn’t see a lot of masks in the stands, and think that was a milestone in the country’s turn away from the virus. But what’s happening here, Dr. Jha, is a lot of people are still emotionally – they’re fearful, right? They hear about removing these restrictions, and their body says, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, we remember how bad this was.”
JHA: Yeah.
DOKOUPIL: So what do you say to people who believe in the science, like you, think you’re an authority, but are like, “I’m just uncomfortable, something triggers me”?
JHA: No, that’s not true. I completely get it. We’ve had two years of very, very difficult pandemic. That’s why I’ve argued for being thoughtful and slow about this. If people want to take their time – no one’s saying – if you want to continue wearing a mask for a little bit longer, I think that’s completely reasonable to do. It is up to the government what kind of restrictions they should impose on citizens. It makes sense to lift those restrictions in this context.
(…)
Here is a transcript of the February 17 exchange on NBC’s Today show:
7:08 AM ET
(…)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE – So, the question now is: Is it time for us to get rid of our masks? As more states let mandates expire the rules are confusing across the nation. The CDC has promised revised guidance.
HODA KOTB: Yeah, with us now to talk about all of it is Dr. Ashish Jha, he’s the dean of Brown University School of Public Health. Dr. Jha: Good morning, everyone!
DR. ASHISH JHA [DEAN OF BROWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH]Good morning.
KOTB: So the numbers are down, everyone is sort of cheering, pulling out the pom-poms saying, wow, it looks like it’s time. Do you think it’s time to do away with masks all together?
JHA: Yeah, so I do think that over the next few weeks we’re gonna – I think it’s gonna be reasonable to lift mask mandates. As you mentioned, infections are falling rapidly, hospitals have gotten more capacity, and deaths will be much lower in the coming weeks. So, yeah, I think it’s a pretty reasonable time to pull off the mask mandates.GUTHRIE – What about schools? Because that’s the one – I mean, even here in New York, they’ve lifted some of the mandates, schools still in effect. And that’s, for a lot of us with little kids, we’re wondering when can they take them off, when is it safe?
JHA: I think it’s pretty reasonable for schools as well. I mean, first of all, all school-age kids can now get vaccinated, so that’s good news. Infections in New York City are now down 90-95% from peak levels. This makes it possible for schools to also do so.
KOTB: Some people say that once you do away with the mask mandate people are going to just say, “Well, those are gone forever.” And as you report a lot, these things come and go. It is possible that another wave will soon emerge. Do you think it would be tough to say, “Okay, guys, now we’re going back to masks all over again”?
JHA: It’s not, Hoda. So the – when we lift mask mandates now we should make it clear that if there is another surge, if there’s another variant, we’re gonna ask people to put their masks back on for a short period of time. I think if we telegraph that very quickly – very carefully and clearly, I think people are going to be reasonable and be willing to do that again.
GUTHIE: I have thought about wearing a mask everywhere, including the subway. The other day, I was in a jam-packed subway and my mask made me feel happy. What if I’m wearing it and nobody else is? Does it provide any protection?
JHA: If you’re wearing a high-quality mask, it actually provides a very high degree of protection, especially when you couple that with somebody who’s vaccinated and boosted. It is possible to protect yourself, even if others around you are not wearing masks.
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