PHILADELPHIA, Miss — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves says a new federal recommendation for people to wear masks indoors during a surge of COVID-19 cases is "foolish."
The Republican governor made his comments Thursday during a speech at the Neshoba County Fair.
He says he won't set a mask mandate for schools. He also says "parents will erupt" if local districts set mask mandates.
Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson responded on Twitter, saying: "I’d rather be foolish and follow CDC mask guidelines than dead by following @tatereeves mask recommendations."
Mississippi has seen a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, driven by the delta variant of the virus.
Some Mississippi school districts have mask mandates for the new academic year, but others say wearing a mask is optional.