Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that the state will drop mask mandates for the upcoming school year, after weeks of protests from parents over the measure. The Republican governor has previously defended his administration’s decision to mandate masks in schools this school year against parent protests, but now says the state’s rising vaccination rates indicate that districts are prepared to limit restrictions. “We now have the ability for those that have concerns about the virus to protect ourselves much more,” Cox told The Associated Press in explaining his decision. “We have better masks available and opportunities for people to make those decisions.” Dozens of districts nationwide have already dropped mask mandates and many more districts have indicated they are likely to not require them next fall. At least half of states still have statewide mask mandates in place, and many school districts still require masks. The school-tracking site Burbio found …