[Opie]

TEXAS AND MISSISSIPPI CASES DECREASE AFTER MASK MANDATES LIFTED

Texas and Mississippi lifted their mask mandates at the beginning of March. Democrats and media of course framed this as stupid Republicans risking lives. In the nearly three weeks since the mask mandates were lifted, Texas and Mississippi's new case levels have decreased.

In Texas from March 10, when Governor Abbott's order went into effect, to the present:
New COVID cases dropped by more than 35%.
The weekly mortality average dropped nearly 50%.

In Mississippi from March 3rd to the present:
New Covid cases dropped by more than 57%.
The weekly mortality average dropped 65%.

Compare this to New York and Michigan, states that still have mask mandates and saw increases in cases.
In NY, new cases increased by 7% from March 3 to March 30.
In Michigan, new cases increased by nearly 300% from March 3 to March 30.

Florida never had a mask mandate.
Since the start of the pandemic, March 2020, there have been 33,337 deaths and 2.05M cases out of a population of 21.5 million.
By contrast, New York has had 49,790 deaths and 1.87M cases out of a population of 19.5 million.
Florida also has more seniors, at 20.9% of the population.
Compared to 16.9% of New York. SOURCES: US Census
So New York has had a mask mandate, an aggressive lockdown, a smaller population, AND fewer vulnerable seniors than Florida, yet has more deaths.