<Anchor> As the
number of coronavirus cases decreased slightly due to vaccination in the United States, the states of Texas and Mississippi lifted the mandate to wear masks.
But health experts have warned that the move could lead to the rapid spread of the mutant virus.
This is Kim Yoon-soo, a correspondent from Washington.
<Reporter> The
states of Texas and Mississippi in the US lifted the requirement to wear a mask from yesterday (3rd).
All stores and businesses have also removed the number of personnel restrictions and made them operate normally as before the coronavirus outbreak.
[Reeves/Mississippi Governor: All counties in our state lift the mask requirement and allow all business locations to accommodate all seats.
] The
two governors heard that the number of new corona19 confirmed cases and hospitalized patients declined as reasons for mitigation.
However, criticism is pouring out that it is a hasty measure in the situation where the number of new confirmed cases exceeds 50,000 each day and 2,000 people die each day.
President Biden also pointed out that it was a big mistake.
Texas also took the lead in the summer of last year, restarting the economy, and then became the epicenter of the re-proliferation of Corona 19.
[Biden/US President: This is a very big mistake. I hope everyone will realize that wearing a mask has made a big difference.] In
particular, there is growing concern that deregulation could provide large petri dishes for the spread of the mutant virus.
[Assisi Ja/US Professor at Brown University: Mutant viruses have started to replace existing viruses. With more mutant viruses, deregulation will surely see a great spread.] The
US media pointed out that the deregulation governors all belong to the Republican Party. .