Right in time for President Biden’s State of the Union (SOTU) address this week, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a new guidance recommending that face masks need be worn only by individuals in high-risk areas on the country or by those who may have a high risk of serious infection. The latest CDC guidance also suggests individuals may want to mask up if they are experiencing COVID symptoms, have been exposed or received a positive COVID test. Following up on the new guidance, Congress dropped its mask requirement just before the SOTU on Tuesday evening. Likewise, a host of states and cities that had mandates in place dropped the dictates this week as well. Only three states – Hawaii, Washington and Oregon – continue to maintain masking mandates although only Hawaii has yet to schedule a formal ending date. Both Washington and Oregon will officially lift their mandates effective next Saturday, March 12, 2022 leaving the Aloha State as the last mandate standing!  It’s certainly been a long time coming!