As the global race to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and distribute vaccines continues, several states are trying a new strategy: introducing fur ban legislation. After tens of thousands of mink have contracted the virus on fur farms around the world, these reservoirs of disease are becoming a subject of concern for health authorities. Rhode Island, Oregon, Connecticut, Hawaii, and New York have all introduced bills which would ban fur sales, and Washington state has introduced legislation that would ban fur production. California banned the sale of new fur products in 2019, the first U.S. state to do so. This followed the U.S. cities of West Hollywood, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and more.