The "race to vaccinate" is underway, as President Biden announced that all U.S. adults will be eligible to receive the vaccine by April 19th. According to the CDC websiteCOVID-19 cases were steadily decreasing for approximately 10 weeks; however, trends are changing, and cases have increased during the past 12 days. The current 7-day moving average of daily new cases (62,167) increased 8.4% compared with the previous 7 days.

Here in Iowa, the Iowa Department of Public Health reports (as of Wed, April 7, 2021) 5,835 deaths in the state, up 337 from a month ago, and 383,337 people testing positive, an increase of just over 19,000 from March. All possibly attributed to that fact that we live in the #1 state in the U.S. with the fewest coronavirus restrictions that directly correlates to the 2nd highest Covid-19 death rate. 

Even though more and more people are receiving the vaccines, cases are starting to increase and most experts are warning of a possible resurgence due to new variants of the disease and people letting their guard down too soon.

That being said, the Cedar Falls City Council voted on Monday, April 5 to extend the current Cedar Falls mask mandate resolution until May 19, 2021. According to a press release, "this requires anyone within city limits to wear a face covering in public settings when unable to remain six or more feet apart from others, including during the use of public transportation or private car services."

Another important part of the mandate to point out is Section 2, that states "no business that is open to the public may provide service to a customer or allow a customer to enter its premises, unless the customer is wearing a face covering as required by this resolution".

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Every person in the City of Cedar Falls must wear a face covering when:

  • In public, when one cannot stay six feet apart from others.
  • Inside any indoor public settings, including but not limited to grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, retail stores, city buildings, and other public settings when among people who do not live in the same household.
  • Outside, if maintaining a distance of six feet apart is not possible.
  • Using public transportation or private car services.

Residents do not have to wear a mask when:

  • Inside their own vehicles
  • Exercising
  • Eating or drinking while seated at a restaurant
  • Obtaining a service requiring the temporary removal of a face covering
  • When federal or state law requires removal of the covering.

Exempt:
Law enforcement, Firefighters, Emergency medical personnel, along with anyone who has trouble breathing or is on oxygen therapy or a ventilator. It also does not apply to anyone who has been told by a medical, legal, or behavioral health professional not to wear face coverings. The Cedar Falls mask requirement does not apply to children under the age of five.

LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.

READ ON: See the States Where People Live the Longest

Stacker used data from the 2020 County Health Rankings to rank every state's average life expectancy from lowest to highest. The 2020 County Health Rankings values were calculated using mortality counts from the 2016-2018 National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey and America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2019 data were also used to provide demographics on the senior population of each state and the state's rank on senior health care, respectively.

Read on to learn the average life expectancy in each state.

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