Rising number of unvaccinated COVID pushes US to more warrants, masks, and mitigation

The continued surge of COVID-19 among unvaccinated people is pushing the United States towards more vaccination mandates, renewed mask use, and other mitigation efforts.

With about 51% of the country not fully vaccinated and the hypertransmissible delta variant spreading rapidly, the pandemic outlook for the country is grim and growing grim. Cases continue to rise in all 50 states and by 170% over the past two weeks, with the pace of the increase in cases also accelerating.

COVID-19 thrives in places with relatively low vaccination rates. Arkansas and Louisiana have the highest rates of new cases, and the two states have vaccinated just 36% of their residents. Florida, Missouri, and Mississippi are also experiencing flare-ups among the unvaccinated.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have increased by 58% across the country, and 97% of those patients are not vaccinated. Deaths are also increasing nationwide, up 20%, and almost exclusively among those unvaccinated.

In an interview on Sunday on Confront the nationFormer surgeon general Jerome Adams pointed out that the wave – and the mitigation efforts that followed to try to calm it down – is the consequence of individuals’ decisions not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“More mitigation is coming,” Adams warned, “whether it’s masking or closures or whether it’s your kids needing to go back to virtual learning, it happens. And it happens because this pandemic is getting out of control again, and it’s getting out of control because we don’t have enough people vaccinated. ”He encouraged people to get vaccinated to protect themselves, those around them, and also to“ help every American to take advantage of the freedoms to which we want to return “.

Masks and warrants

Adams’ prediction was quickly validated. Leading infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci told CNN on Sunday that revisions to the federal masking guidelines are under “active review.” The current surge has already spurred renewal of mask requirements in some places, like Los Angeles, however. And some experts have even recommended switching to N95 masks amid the spread of the delta.

Meanwhile, Monday saw a steady stream of new vaccine mandates in response to the outbreak. The American Medical Association has joined more than 50 other healthcare organizations in supporting COVID-19 vaccination mandates for healthcare workers.

“Due to the recent wave of COVID-19 and the availability of safe and effective vaccines, our healthcare organizations and companies advocate that all healthcare and long-term care employers require their workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, “the joint statement read. started.

“It is essential that all healthcare workers be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the safety of our patients and colleagues,” said Susan Bailey, past president of WADA, in a statement. “With over 300 million doses administered in the United States and nearly 4 billion doses administered worldwide, we know that vaccines are safe and highly effective in preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19. “

Meanwhile, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced Monday that it has required all of its frontline health workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, making it the first federal agency to do so. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all municipal government employees should be vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID tests. Likewise, in California, state employees and healthcare workers will also need to be vaccinated or regularly tested, Gavin Newsom said.

Also on Monday, the San Francisco Bar Owner Alliance, which represents hundreds of businesses, announced that starting Thursday, July 29, establishments will ask indoor customers to provide proof of vaccination or a COVID-test result. 19 negative from the last 72 hours. .