On Friday, Biden warned about the possibility of imposing increased coronavirus restrictions in the country as rising COVID cases are seen nationwide.
Biden said they are looking at the possibility of mandating COVID vaccines
The president was asked by reporters whether the people should expect stricter COVID restrictions. Biden answered, saying that in all probability, stricter restrictions would be imposed in the country. Biden did not mention any detail about what the stricter restrictions would mean.
JUST IN: President Biden sets masking requirements, COVID restrictions for 4 million federal workers, urges states and localities to offer residents $100 to get COVID-19 shots. https://t.co/iYBGzMMToq
— WTOP (@WTOP) July 29, 2021
However, Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mentioned in an interview last Friday that the Biden administration is looking at the possibility of imposing a vaccine mandate.
Walensky added that she agrees with imposing COVID vaccines on Americans. However, she has nothing else to say, other than informing the people that they are looking at these types of policies.
She then emphasized how several vaccines for highly infectious diseases which caused high numbers of deaths are now required in public settings; included among these diseases are measles, diphtheria, and polio. The CDC director also added that she acknowledges the pushback.
However, she maintained that the best way to stop the COVID delta variant from infecting more people is to ensure that there is less virus out there. For this to happen, Walensky stated that people should get vaccinated and wear masks.
According to data released by CDC, the confirmed COVID case increased by 64% over the past week. This made the number of cases the same as the figures recorded last February. Although almost 50% of the U.S. population already vaccinated, and roughly 57% already had the first dose, the delta variant of the Coronavirus brought a new threat to the country.
To boost the vaccine campaign, Biden urged states to give $100 incentives to people who’ll get vaccinated. However, they insist that an economic shutdown is less likely to happen again.
CDC provided a new mask mandate, and some jurisdictions are already implementing it
Meanwhile, a new mask mandate was provided by the CDC, as now everyone, even those fully vaccinated people, is now obligated to wear masks in public spaces. Some states and cities were prompt in adapting the new mandates, as jurisdictions like Washington D.C., Georgia, and California imposed the same rules.
Masks will once again be required indoors in D.C. beginning Saturday, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser ordered, in a reversal of recent policy driven by new federal guidelines that recommend indoor masking in areas where coronavirus transmission is high. https://t.co/FKeUDNFrzN
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 29, 2021
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said that because of the spike in COVID cases, they want to go ahead and require people to wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus. The mandate will be effective at 5 a.m. on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms also announced that wearing masks will likewise be required in public places. This is in accordance with the CDC guidelines and the data that suggest the effectiveness of masks or face coverings in preventing the spread of the virus.
