Throughout the summer, many statewide mask mandates have expired, causing some cities to create their own. But with schools reopening and the delta variant becoming an increasing concern, some states are now opting to reinstate or strengthen their mask requirements.
Seven states, along with Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, have mask mandates for the vaccinated and the unvaccinated in place, according to NBC News' count. Another six states have mask mandates for the unvaccinated. In all, that’s six more states with full mask mandates than there were at the end of July.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask guidance July 27. According to the CDC, indoor mask use is recommended in areas with high transmission rates, regardless of vaccination status.
Still, a majority of states do not have mask mandates in place. Some, such as Florida, have even sought to ban local jurisdictions from enforcing the mandates. The U.S. Department of Education is investigating whether some of the states banning mask mandates are violating students’ rights
