"In hindsight, it's clear that the message many Americans heard was that, vaccinated or not, masks were gone for good."

Schools are issuing similar requirements

Meanwhile, school officials across the US are gearing up to reopen their doors soon while many students are still ineligible for a Covid-19 shot.

Several states have already enacted legislation that prohibits districts from requiring masks in schools, while at least six others have announced mask requirements for K-12 students regardless of vaccination status.

At least eight of the 20 largest school districts in the US are making masks optional for students in school while another nine require masks, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Public school districts in Philadelphia; Fairfax County, Virginia; Hawaii's Public Schools; and Prince George's County, Maryland, are also requiring masks.

In Georgia, Atlanta Public Schools announced Thursday it will require masks for all students and teachers in schools and school buses.

The district said it considered several factors, including the rise of the Delta variant and the fact that many students still can't get a vaccine.

About 18% of its eligible student population is fully vaccinated, the district said, and about 58% of employees are vaccinated or plan to be.

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools will also require students and staff to wear masks for the 2021-2022 school year, with the exception of students with specific health exemptions.

In Wisconsin, the Madison Metropolitan School District said it will require masks for staff and students inside schools and school buses, except during outdoor activities or when they're eating or drinking.

In a letter to families on Thursday, Virginia Beach City Public Schools said administration officials have reviewed the state's latest guidance -- published a day after the board's meeting -- and are consulting with local and state health officials on a plan.

The recently issued state guidance leaves mask decisions to local districts but "strongly recommends" elementary schools put an indoor mask requirement in place for students, teachers and staff regardless of vaccination status and that that "at a minimum" middle and high schools require masks indoors for those who have not been fully vaccinated.

Some companies are rethinking their return to office

The pandemic drastically changed the way Americans worked.