New masking guidance from the CDC has set off a rush by states and businesses in the United States to restore mask mandates. Meanwhile, hoping to invite businesses nationwide to follow suit, President Joe Biden will announce later today today that millions of federal workers must show proof that they're fully vaccinated before returning to work, or face regular testing. But it is reported that some federal employees will not be allowed to do regular testing instead of getting a vaccine.
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A battery of mask mandates across the nation is restored today as cities, states, schools and businesses nationwide raced to reimpose mask mandates on the heels of the CDC's decision to change its masking guidance.
Nevada and Missouri were among the first that moved swiftly to reimpose indoor mask mandates, following the CDC's announcement on Tuesday.
But governors of Arizona, Pennsylvania and South Carolina seem to abhor indoor mask mandates as they remain reluctant to reimpose indoor mask mandates.
Americans have now entered yet another emotional debate over the effectiveness of the face coverings.
So much so, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi even traded insults with the House's minority leader, Kevin McCarthy yesterday. While McCarthy described the Democrats' act of asking U.S. states to revert to indoor mask mandates as a ploy, the House speaker accused Republicans of always eschewing anti-virus restrictions, and said by no stretch of the imagination can the Republicans' move help eradicate COVID in the U.S.
Back to the rush to reimpose mask mandates. Businesses in the U.S. are now following suit. Tech giant Google today postponed a planned return to the office for most of its employees until mid-October. Apple also did likewise.
Hoping to invite more employers to follow suit, President Joe Biden is slated to announce tomorrow that millions of federal workers must show proof they've received a COVID vaccine. But there's reportedly an exception: Some federal workers must get a vaccine, and they are not allowed to opt for regular testing. Biden will enunciate his plan tomorrow, and more details will be available, although he's already made it crystal clear those who decided not to get vaccinated are not at risk of being fired.
With another crisis upon Americans, Biden criticised those unvaccinated for being the culprits of the resurgence of the virus.
Three months ago, the CDC's Director mentioned in an interview that if Americans remain reluctant to get a vaccine, the U.S. will have to face another surge in COVID infections. And so it is, recording an average of more than 60,000 infections per day, COVID is literally running rampant in the country, thanks to the presence of the highly contagious Delta variant.
A month ago, the average number of COVID cases in the U.S. was around 11,000. And to put it in perspective, the U.S. is now recording more than 60,000 new cases a day, 6 times the number recorded a month ago.
Needless to say, data from the CDC speaks volumes.
"The data that we have right now is different. We have a country that is full of Delta. Delta is a more transmissible virus. And the new data that we have is that Delta is able, in those rare breakthrough infections, to be transmitted to others. We know that our 12 to 17-year-olds right now have only about 30 percent coverage in being fully vaccinated. And so taking all of that information together, we believe that the CDC - the CDC recommends that k-12 schools should be opened for full time in-person learning, but in those indoor settings, everyone should be masked, should mask and take other proper prevention strategies to keep those schools safe." Said Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC.
Still grappling with the virus, health officials have to make every minute count in order to end this catastrophic crisis, which has already ensnared the necks of millions of Americans and brought insurmountable difficulties to the United States.
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