Bad news: CDC warns states against lifting restrictions 

Cities and states have been citing the declining cases, and the fact that the post-holiday surge appears to be over, as a reason to lift restrictions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would like you to know that it thinks this is a very bad idea.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on Monday urged states against lifting coronavirus restrictions, citing the ongoing virus threat and more contagious variants on the rise despite lower case counts overall.

Walensky was asked at a White House press briefing about Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) ending the state’s mask mandate, as well as social distancing requirements for bars and restaurants, last week.

“I would discourage any such activity,” Walensky said. “We are still in the first 100 days where we want, certainly, everybody masked for the first 100 days.”

“We have yet to control this pandemic,” she added. “We still have this emerging threat of variants, and I would just simply discourage any of those activities. We really need to keep all of the mitigation measures at play here if we’re really going to get control of this pandemic.”