The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a statement on Feb. 8, 2021 saying if Americans are fully vaccinated that they are allowed to gather indoors without masks if they have waited a full two weeks after receiving the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vac- cine. While this is now considered to be a low risk activity, there are still new cases of COVID-19, and many people are still in the hospital. There are also several reports of the strain from the United Kingdom that have seriously affected many Americans as well. Iowa’s

governor, Kim Reynolds, may have lifted restrictions on wearing masks, but we should still do our part to mask up and protect those around us. Similarly, Montana and Texas have relaxed restrictions as well while states like New York, Massachusetts and Arkansas are getting ready to relax mandates.

This might be safe for families that have been quarantining together and can now gather in larger groups, but it is safe to keep masking up! The CDC recommends that the mask fit snugly against our faces and that we still maintain six feet of distance between ourselves when going outside to the public though. Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is the head of infectious diseases, has also come out recently and stated that it is still far too early to be lifting the COVID-19 restrictions around the United States. A few other governors have started to lift the mask mandate, and many others are heavily warning against it as well. People should still get tested for COVID-19 even if they have been vaccinated but experience symptoms after a gathering is held and make sure to inform those that were at the gathering too.

Schools and universities across the country ares eeing the decline of cases, but“the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, Ashish Jha, said decisions such as those by(Mississippi’s Governor)Reeves and Texas’s governor, Greg Abbott, to lift restrictions could slow the process of getting life back to normal and put residents at risk of infection and death,” according to The Guardian. That being said, our Panther community is doing a pretty good job of handling the situation as we move forward to the next few months. We have been safe enough that our president is now allowing for both a virtual and in-per- son graduation for the class of2021.

Protecting relatives and protecting those around you whom you do not know is a great first step in curbing the spread. Yes, cases and hospitalizations are dropping, but as mentioned before, it is not as quickly as we expect or want it to. Until we can truly know the long-term effectiveness of the vaccine, it is best to keep masking up and remaining socially distanced through these next few months. If we can follow the guidelines, then we might be able to return to the way our lives were a full year ago sooner rather than later. We have been in quarantine for over a year now, and hopefully we will be able to move.