Blue states are rolling back mask rules – but experts warn it’s too soon

New York joined several other states – including California, Oregon, Illinois and Connecticut – in lifting mask mandates for some public spaces. Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP

Several US states, many of them governed by Democrats, began rolling back mask mandates this week, a move public health experts warn could set back progress battling Covid.

On Wednesday, Massachusetts, Illinois, New York and Rhode Island joined California, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Oregon in lifting mask mandates for some public places.