Mask Mandate Comeback Sparks ‘We Will Not Comply’ Movement as Covid Cases Rise

As COVID-19 hospitalization rates in the U.S. skyrocket, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention., a ‘we will not comply’ movement is slowly formulating across social media, spurred by Donald Trunp’s renewed focus on mask mandates and COVID-affiliated lockdowns that he initiated at the pandemic’s inception.

Trump, in a video posted Wednesday on X, formerly, vowed to reject any fearmongering  of new coronavirus variants and if elected president pledged to cut federal funding for entities like schools and airlines that follow such protocols.

WE WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT COMPLY WITH A RIDICULOUS MASK MANDATE! #Masks pic.twitter.com/NPUdqy2PcC

— AMERICANDREAM09 🇺🇸 Jack Media ~DREAM (@JackMedia7) August 28, 2023

Trump was the individual who  set the original mandates and lockdowns in motion, however, when coronavirus cases escalated exponentially starting in March 2020. At the time, he urged individuals to avoid bars, restaurants and other areas where 10 or more people were gathered in the hope that the virus would dissipate by that summer.

The U.S. tallied about 15,000 reported hospitalizations of people with COVID-19 over the seven days ending Aug. 19. Though a far cry from previous totals during the pandemic, that’s a 19% increase from the week prior, continuing a climb that started at the end of June after hospitalizations reached a recent weekly low point of approximately 6,300.

Relative to population, the latest tally equates to 4.5 people per 100,000 admitted to the hospital. By State, Hawaii and Florida have the highest rates of new COVID-19 hospitalizations, at 9.8 and 9.7 per 100,000, respectively – more than twice the national rate. Louisiana , Alabama, and Mississippi follow.

Among patients visiting emergency departments, 1.9% were diagnosed with COVID-19 nationally.