On average, there are now 57 thousand new cases of COVID-19 in the United States per day, reports ABC News. Experts see the reason for the worsening of the situation in the highly contagious strain “delta” and a significant percentage of still unvaccinated citizens. While doctors are asking Americans to “listen to common sense” and get vaccinated, opposition is brewing in some states over the resumption of the mandatory wearing of masks.
It became known this morning that several cases of coronavirus infection in vaccinated people have been identified in the Major League of Basketball. The organization had to postpone the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals, which was due to take place last night, after the coronavirus was confirmed in four players and eight Nationals employees. According to the team manager, all but one of the cases are vaccinated.
DAVE MARTINEZ, Washington Nationals Baseball Team Manager:
Some guys don’t have symptoms, but some have… We’re just worried about our guys.
On average, there are now about 57,000 new cases of COVID-19 per day in the United States – this figure has grown by almost 55% compared to last week. Experts see the reason for the increase in the number of infections in the extremely infectious variant of the “delta” and a significant percentage of still unvaccinated citizens.
At the same time, Pfizer is already calling for an additional third shot. The company released new data that showed that after six months after vaccination, the effectiveness of its drug drops from 96% to 84%.
RYAN RIBEIRA, Deputy Head of Emergency Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine:
In my opinion, there is a good chance that ultimately people at high risk of contracting the coronavirus or complications from COVID-19 will indeed need additional vaccinations by the end of the year. And also, I suppose, we may all be called for revaccination, but a lot of that depends on what the research data shows over the next weeks.
And now confrontations are brewing again over the requirement to wear masks. In Missouri, the attorney general is suing St. Louis County and the City of Kansas after they reintroduced mandatory masking. The head of the St. Louis County Health Department expressed frustration at the rejection of masks and vaccines.
FAIZAL KHAN, Head of the St. Louis County Health Department:
Forget your principles – be responsible and use common sense. Get vaccinated, get rid of delusions. And, please, do not listen to politicians who are trying to mislead you, seeking only to gain more political points in a simple way.
Seven states have laws against the mandatory wearing of masks. House (Republican – InoTV) minority leader Kevin McCarthy has even publicly spoken out against the new requirement to wear masks at lower house meetings. On his Twitter, he wrote: “The threat of returning the mandatory wearing of masks is a solution that does not rely on science…”.