The COVID-19 has never subsided, especially in the United States. According to the Washington Post, at the end of May, with the number of new cases rebounding again, some American universities renewed the requirement to wear masks indoors.
On May 25, the University of Hawaii tightened regulations in its 10 campuses. Except for working alone or maintaining social distance, all indoor spaces are required to wear masks. The University of Hawaii announced that this action was taken because, according to the guidance of the Centers for disease prevention and control (CDC), almost the entire state of Hawaii is a high-risk area for community transmission.
The University of Delaware, the alma mater of US President Biden, announced that in view of the increasing number of new cases and hospitalized cases in the state and the United States, the university once again required wearing masks in indoor space.
A number of universities have introduced similar measures, especially those in Rhode Island and other high-risk areas. In April, officials in Philadelphia tried to impose a mandatory mask order on indoor public places, but they were forced to give up after only four days. In the face of a new wave of epidemic threat, on May 23, the local school finally accepted the mask order.
According to the US New York Times, the US federal government estimated that the new coronavirus, named ba The Omicron subtype of 2.12.1 has become the main strain infected by new cases in the United States, and its transmission speed is faster than that of the previous virus. The CDC announced that as of May 21, 58% of the new cases of COVID-19 in the United States were infected with ba 2.12.1 variants.
The New York Times reported that in the fourth week of May, the United States reported an average of more than 110000 new cases a day, an increase of 26% over two weeks ago. Since February this year, the number of new cases per day in the United States has exceeded 100000 for the first time, and the widespread use of rapid family testing means that the number of real infections may be higher. In the third and fourth weeks of May, the number of hospitalized cases of COVID-19 in the United States increased by 29%, and about 26000 people were hospitalized every day; On average, about 400 people die from novel coronavirus infection every day.
The New York Times reported that in New York City, the number of new cases and the number of hospitalizations have put great pressure on the medical system. In late May, the city once again entered the "high alert state of the epidemic". However, as of May 30, there was still no sign that New York City intended to restart the mandatory mask order. Federal health officials have repeatedly warned that New York needs a mask order.
"As of May 19, more than 45% of Americans lived in the medium or high risk areas for the spread of novel coronavirus." On May 21, Rochelle Paula valensky, director of CDC, tweeted that. The next day, the White House coordinator of the COVID-19 epidemic ashjeha also urged Americans to wear masks. "I strongly feel that people should do this in crowded indoor spaces and places with high transmission rates." JHA said on ABC's this week program.
Many people turn a deaf ear to this, or simply do the opposite. According to the Washington Post, in April, a federal judge in Florida overturned the mandatory mask order for public transport. Several of the largest airlines in the United States have cancelled the requirement to wear masks to fly.
What makes medical experts more worried is that despite the resurgence of the virus, thousands of Americans still choose to travel regardless.
On May 30, the United States took a day off for memorial day. The New York Times said that this long weekend, the United States ushered in the busiest travel season since the outbreak of the COVID-19. Most people choose to travel by car.
"We believe that because many people have chosen not to travel in the past two years, the pent up demand has led to this result." AAA spokesman Ellen Edmunds said.