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**APRIL 22, 2022**

Kuttner on TAP

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**** Who Was That Masked Man?

It makes good sense to retain the mask mandate, but keeping it is
difficult politics.

Joe Biden just can't catch a break. In public-health terms, it's
obviously prudent to stay masked until COVID subsides further,
especially in planes, trains, buses, subways, and theaters. But people
who are sick of wearing masks make a lot more noise than people who
quietly wear them.

On Monday, a Trump-appointed judge, Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, struck down
the CDC's latest extension of the mask mandate as unconstitutional
overreach. The Biden administration, wary of public opinion, took two
days to decide whether to appeal
,
and at this writing has not requested a stay of the order pending
appeal.

As the appeal works its way through the courts, which will take weeks or
months, many people will just stop wearing masks; and barring a massive
upsurge, it will be very difficult to reinstate the mandate.

This is not good policy. There are now about 37,000 new infections per
day, an increase of 45

****percent over the previous two weeks, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
. The risk
of long COVID remains a serious problem.

And in fact, according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll
,
a majority of Americans and an overwhelming majority of Democrats favor
keeping the mandate. So Biden should be more resolute.

For the moment, sensible mask policy is up to individuals. I happened to
go to the dentist last week and I asked my dentist (who was masked) if
many dentists catch COVID, since all of their patients have open mouths.

"No," he replied. "Masks work. They provide a lot of protection even
when the other person isn't masked."

I will be flying from Boston to D.C. next week for the launch of my new
book, Going Big . I'm
thrilled that the book is coming out, but this trip doesn't make me
happy. It's my first air travel in more than two years, and many of
the yahoo passengers will be unmasked. I will be wearing a mask, maybe
two masks.

Here is the remote link
to the event. I wish I could watch it at home, like you.

****

~ ROBERT KUTTNER

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