The Great Debate has begun, Again. And it’s not even 2024 yet. A few states are asking that people mask in hospitals due to the rise of COVID variant, JN.1, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases. But there’s potential for more escalation — and the worst case scenario, lockdowns. For now, it is limited to hospitals in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, D.C., but it still remains alarming and disconcerting nonetheless.

These mask mandates do beg the question as to when (or if) the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) may intervene. CDC ended the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Declaration in May 2023. Now it may re-implement that declaration seven months after. 

A second time for lockdowns due to COVID, particularly with the world on edge with wars between Russia and Ukraine and Palestine and Israel, and national issues as overflow of immigration into the United States, could pose severe problems. Concerning the wars, it may turn into a logistical nightmare if transporting weapons and resources to foreign nations. As for the immigration overflow, the use of abandoned office buildings, hotels and public facilities, such as stadiums, may be the few places that can accommodate large groups of people. Hopefully, lockdowns don’t make their return, or cascading disasters could potentially happen, not only in the United States but elsewhere as well.