PORTLAND, Ore. -- As states around the country lift COVID-19 restrictions, Oregon is poised to go the opposite direction — and many residents are fuming about it. Wood’s agency received a record number of public comments, mostly critical, and nearly 60,000 residents signed a petition against the proposal. At least six states — Alabama, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota and Texas — have lifted mask mandates, and some never implemented them. In January, Virginia became the first in the nation to enact permanent COVID-19 workplace safety and health rules. “The majority of comments were simply hostile to the entire notion of COVID-19 restrictions,” Wood said.

Source: ABC News April 17, 2021 16:00 UTC