Because of Covid-19 we have been very limited in what we can do. So what will our restrictions be by summer? Will activities like cookouts or parties be safe? Will mask mandates still be in order? 

As of now Governor Jim Justice says he will not lift the mask mandate anytime soon. Justice says lifting mask restrictions is ‘ill advised’ and a ‘macho thing.’

Texas recently removed their statewide mandate. Although that state hasn’t seen a drastic increase in case numbers yet, I see that in their near future. As of now, West Virginia’s cases are low, but trying to lift restrictions too quickly could cause another spike. Many doctors say 3 feet is now enough for social distancing, as opposed to 6. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, says by the end of this year the U.S could “approach some level of normality.” Now that more and more people are vaccinated, herd immunity is within reach and will drastically slow the spread of the virus.

With all this in mind, I think this summer will still be very different from what we are used to, but nowhere near as restricted as last year.