Biden wants masks mandated in every state. These are the ones that don’t require them
Most states already have some type of mask mandate, but some have no statewide rule — either leaving it as a recommendation or giving the authority to local officials.
Two states recently added face mask mandates: North Dakota and Iowa.
On November 13, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced a new measure requiring face coverings in indoor businesses and indoor public settings as well as outdoor public settings where physical distancing isn’t possible. The order is effective through December 13.
And on November 16 Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation that requires a face mask when people are in an indoor public space and unable to social distance for 15 minutes or longer.
Here are the states with no statewide mask requirement.
Alaska
Arizona
Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, allows individual counties to mandate a mask, but does not have a statewide initiative. Scottsdale was the first to make masks mandatory starting June 19. Other major municipalities with requirements include Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff.
Florida
There is no statewide mask requirement, yet some local municipalities have their own mandates.
Georgia
Meanwhile, several counties and cities have mask mandates.
Idaho
The state does not have a statewide requirement, but several local municipalities do, including Boise.
Mississippi
On September 4, Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, lifted the state face covering requirement.
Missouri
The state does not have a statewide requirement, but several local municipalities do.
Nebraska
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Several counties and cities, including Charleston and Columbia, have mask mandates.
South Dakota
“As I’ve said before, if folks want to wear a mask, they should be free to do so,” she wrote. “Similarly, those who don’t want to wear a mask shouldn’t be shamed into wearing one.”
South Dakota is second — only to North Dakota — in the number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people.
Tennessee
Though there is no statewide mandate, Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, signed an executive order granting the mayors in 89 counties the authority to issue mask requirements.
Wyoming
Masks are not a political statement, Biden says
In a speech Monday, Biden implored Americans to stop politicizing masks and social distancing.
“Please, I implore you, wear a mask,” the President-elect said. “Do it for yourself, do it for your neighbor. A mask is not a political statement but it is a way to start pulling the country together.”
“And if they refuse, I’ll go to the mayors and county executives and get local masking requirements in place nationwide,” he said.
“Wearing of face masks in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission, and this inexpensive practice, in conjunction with simultaneous social distancing, quarantine, and contact tracing, represents the most likely fighting opportunity to stop the Covid-19 pandemic, prior to the development of a vaccine,” researchers in Texas and California wrote back in June.
CNN’s Sarah Mucha contributed to this report.
