Chicago City and Rhode Island State Also Strengthen Quarantine Measures
CDC "More Cities and States May Impose Travel Restrictions if Situation Worsens"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Amid the rise in new COVID-19 cases in the United States due to the spread of the 'Delta variant,' Los Angeles (LA) County has reinstated the mask mandate.
Previously, the U.S. accelerated normalization by lifting mask mandates as vaccination rates increased, but the spread of the Delta variant has led to tightening of prevention measures once again.
According to foreign media on the 15th (local time), LA County decided to restore the indoor mask-wearing mandate regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status starting at 11:59 PM on the 17th.
Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation allowing vaccinated individuals to remove masks in most indoor and outdoor settings, the reinstatement of the mask mandate reflects concerns over the serious resurgence of COVID-19 in the LA area.
LA County Public Health Director Muntu Davis stated, "All options are on the table," signaling that additional measures may be implemented if the situation worsens.
Director Davis reported that over the past seven days, more than 1,000 new cases have been confirmed daily in LA County.
As of the 15th, the county recorded 1,537 new cases, an 83% increase over one week.
Additionally, the county's positivity rate rose more than threefold from 1.2% on June 15 to 3.75% recently.
Davis said, "Community transmission has already reached a significant level, and we cannot wait for it to rise further," adding, "If it reaches a higher level, it will already be too late."
California, where LA County is located, lifted many COVID-19 restrictions and fully reopened economic activities on the 15th of last month. However, Davis emphasized that the situation now is completely different from then.
Meanwhile, Rhode Island is also reinstating prevention measures.
Rhode Island has mandated that all public and private universities require students to complete vaccination before the start of the new academic year this fall. Rhode Island is the first state in the U.S. to implement such a measure across all universities.
State Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott said, "The Delta variant is circulating in some parts of the country where many of our students live," and emphasized that vaccination is key to having a successful academic year.
Meanwhile, U.S. health officials said that local governments such as cities and states may restore measures like travel restrictions.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told ABC News that if the COVID-19 spread continues, more city and state authorities may impose restrictions similar to Chicago’s travel restrictions targeting unvaccinated individuals.
On the 2nd (local time), tourists wearing masks are waiting in line for check-in procedures at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
Earlier, Chicago reissued travel alerts on the 13th for Missouri and Arkansas, states with low vaccination rates, due to concerns over COVID-19 resurgence.
Accordingly, travelers or tourists coming from these areas must provide a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours before arriving in Chicago, prove full vaccination, or follow a ten-day self-quarantine guideline.
This came about just over a month after Chicago lifted various prevention measures and fully normalized all economic activities.
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