Past two weeks with hospitalizations down more than 20%. deaths, which are often weeks behind hospitalizations, are still very high and growing. with case numbers trending in the right direction, though, there is a growing push for some to begin ending covid restrictions, like masks indoors and in schools. here s meagan fitzgerald reporter: tonight, finally a downward trend. but as covid infections drop, growing calls from doctors, teachers and parents to drop masks for kids, citing concerns of long-term effects. masks in schools really decrease the quality of their educational environment and their social and emotional learning we do not have good high-quality evidence that children masking reduces the transmission of covid. reporter: but doctors are divided. i would say for certain right now it is not safe yet. we still have a very high number of people who are hospitalized. reporter: as the debate continues for
Infections drop, several more states are lifting their mask mandates. we told you yesterday about new york governor kathy hochul ending the indoor mandate there. now four other states are loosening their restrictions as well. on february 18th washington state will lift its mask mandate on outdoor gatherings of 500 or more people. the governor there says an announcement on indoor masking, including in schools, could come as soon as next week. starting tomorrow rhode island will no longer require mask wearing indoors. the state s school mask mandate is also set to expire on march 4th. illinois will also see its indoor mandate expire later this month with exceptions for jails, hospitals and schools. massachusetts is set to end its school mask mandate on february 28th. however, districts will still have the option to require masks if they choose to do so. i think schools are the hardest