Why Some U.S. States Are Rejecting Lockdown Measures

U.S.|Governors successful Maryland, Colorado and New Jersey cull lockdowns and different restrictions.

• Dec. 19, 2021, 2:02 p.m. ET

As Omicron cases began to surge successful respective U.S. states, authorities leaders were calculating their approaches for a fatigued public.

Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, whose authorities is facing a surge that has led him to grow infirmary capableness and bounds elective surgeries, won’t enforce immoderate lockdowns oregon mandates. Mr. Hogan said connected the programme “Fox News Sunday” that the authorities is “trying to bash everything we can” to get the remainder of its authorities vaccinated — but for much mandates. “We are not anticipating immoderate lockdowns astatine all,” helium said. “We are not considering them.”

But the state’s uptick is troubling, Mr. Hogan said: “I would say, successful the adjacent mates of days, Omicron is going to beryllium the ascendant variant successful our state.”

Maryland’s seven-day rolling mean is 1,340 regular cases. “We are anticipating, implicit the adjacent 3 to 5 weeks, astir apt the worst surge we’ve seen successful our hospitals passim the full crisis,” helium added.

Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey is besides battling spiking Covid cases and overwhelmed hospitals, inactive from the Delta variant.

“Every clip you deliberation you got it figured out, it takes a crook you don’t expect,” Mr. Murphy said connected the programme “Fox News Sunday.” He added, “This is unrelenting. There’s an tremendous magnitude of fatigue retired there, arsenic it relates to this virus.”

And portion a lockdown isn’t likely, it hasn’t been wholly ruled out, helium said. “You person to permission it connected the table, but I don’t spot it,” helium said, citing the state’s highly vaccinated population, including residents who person gotten a booster shot. “As fatigued arsenic they are, they are mostly accepting of what you request to bash to propulsion backmost astatine this — and for the clip being, astatine least, we deliberation that’s going to enactment for us.”

At slightest 70 percent of New Jersey residents are afloat vaccinated, according to a Times database, putting it successful the apical states for inoculations. Cases person been doubling successful caller weeks, with New Jersey reporting a rolling seven-day mean of astir 5,500 regular cases. Mr. Murphy did not follow New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, successful implementing a caller disguise mandate, saying it was not indispensable astatine the time. But helium said it would stay an option.

Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado connected Sunday voiced cautious optimism astir his state’s coronavirus numbers, citing a escaped at-home investigating programme and vaccinations.

Colorado reported connected Saturday a seven-day rolling mean of astir 1,500 regular cases, down from November numbers. Mr. Polis maintained that helium would not enforce a disguise mandate, thing helium has said should beryllium up to section officials.

“We person a batch little hospitalizations than we did a fewer weeks ago,” Mr. Polis said connected the NBC programme “Meet the Press.”

He cited pandemic fatigue arsenic a crushed to debar much restrictive measures for present and said that vaccinations would beryllium capable to support the variant astatine bay. “People conscionable don’t respond good to this ongoing situation of fearfulness for 2 years,” Mr. Polis said. He added, “Getting 3 doses of the vaccine is highly effectual and each but negates immoderate hazard that you face.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Biden administration’s apical Covid adviser, disagreed. “I cognize it is surely overmuch much of a situation of the unvaccinated. But determination are different tools too vaccine, and wearing a disguise complements the extortion that you get from the vaccine and a boost,” helium said Sunday connected the ABC programme “This Week.”

He urged adjacent those who are vaccinated to deterioration a disguise regularly. “I don’t deliberation you should beryllium successful a concern that if you’re vaccinated, you don’t ever person to interest astir wearing a mask,” helium said.