MEMPHIS, Tennessee — In Tuesday's Ransom Note: listen to your doctor.
Most of the time we follow that advice, except when it comes to COVID-19, apparently. Yes, cases have plunged in the United State. more than 70% over the past two months. Average deaths per day are down 40% since mid-January. Plus, we're a year into this crisis. We're tired of the rules. I get it.
Unfortunately, that's created a great opportunity for governors to be popular again and lift their mask mandates. Mississippi's governor, Tate Reeves, did so today by tweet, saying all businesses can operate at full capacity without any restrictions. “it's time!” he said.
But what he didn't say is Mississippi is among the slowest states in the country for getting vaccines out, 43rd. There's Arkansas at 44th. Missouri, Alabama, Tennessee at 13.4%. Good ol’ Texas at 48th, whose governor also lifted mask mandates today. Then Utah and Georgia last according to today's CDC numbers.
Doctors with that organization warn the numbers are starting to head up again. Even so, 2,000 people are dying every day, and they're very concerned about these new mutations. So, this is the first time I've been glad that Tennessee Governor Bill Lee never issued a statewide mandate. So far in Tennessee cities with health departments, they're still listening to their doctors.
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