Health Experts Urge Caution As States Push To Ease COVID-19 Restrictions

States are pushing to reopen businesses as COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed and new case numbers are declining, but health experts are still urging caution. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky said Monday that “now is not the time” to lift restrictions; Michael Ryan, head of the World Health Organization's emergencies program, said Monday it is "premature" and "unrealistic" to think that the pandemic would disappear by the end of 2021. Despite these warnings, state governors across the country are lifting lockdowns, mask mandates and capacity limits. Last month, Massachusetts, North Carolina and New York allowed indoor dining to reopen at decreased capacity limits, while Iowa and Montana lifted statewide mask mandates earlier this month. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday he is considering removing all statewide coronavirus orders. The CDC estimates nearly 20% of adults have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 10% have been fully inoculated. Johnson & Johnson just distributed 4 million doses of its new one-shot COVID-19 vaccine Sunday, adding to vaccines being distributed by Pfizer and Moderna. Health experts' remarks about restrictions received coverage from outlets across the political spectrum, as did various states easing restrictions. Some voices from the right criticized health leaders' response to the COVID-19 pandemic.