Coronavirus in America: Washington DC again orders the use of masks in closed spaces and declares a state of emergency

middle of The worrying progress of the Omicron version, The District of Columbia reinstated an indoor mask use order and declared a state of emergency.

“I’m going to re-establish mask orders across the city.”, Revealed Muriel BowserDuring an informational meeting, the mayor of the US Capital District.

He also announced that he would expand the tests to the entire city during the traditional wave of COVID-19 and informed that DC Ordered over a million rapid antigen tests. He also informed that residents can continue to use the free PCR test at the sites designated by the district.

,After using the rapid test at home, residents will have to report their resultsVia the official website “DC Health”.

Thus Bowser’s order would take effect from Tuesday at 6 ama, local time, and shall be valid as long as 31 January,

for its part, The mayor explained that the declaration of a state of emergency is “primarily to expand our administrative tools to ensure that we can do all the things we need to do administratively, including goods and services.” and ensure that we are managing the government functions in an immediate manner to the DC”.

In addition, officials pointed out that the winter holidays of public schools in the Colomba district are extended until January 5 So that students, teachers and staff can collect test kits before returning to classes.

According to local officials, There are 100,000 tests available, which can be collected on January 3 and 4.

Bowser reiterated that, to prevent a new wave of coronaviruses caused by the Omicron strain, “It is essential that everyone who meets the requirements be vaccinated and receive booster shots”: “As transmission rates rise, unvaccinated people are hospitalized and die at a staggering rate compared to those who are not vaccinated.”

During his appearance he remarked that “All DC government employees, contractors, interns and fellows should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and have a booster.”

The mayor also listed some of the recommendations of health officials: Choose your activities wisely and reconsider social events; And keep in mind your own risk, of people you are going to be close with or who you may see in the next few days”.

A day before the Christmas and New Year holidays, officials doubled their efforts to stop the edition’s advance. omicron And the rise of the Delta strain.

Fighting in hospitals in different parts of the country To deal with the fatigue of doctors, nurses and other staff, who were already shaken by the wave of patients.

The national average for COVID-19 hospitalizations for seven days till Wednesday was 60,000., well below the peak of last winter, but 50% higher than at the beginning of November, according to the government.

The situation is more severe in regions with a cold climate., where more and more people are gathering indoors and recently the infection is accumulating.

Experts attribute most cases and hospitalizations to infection in people who have not been vaccinated for the virus. The federal government says that 61% of the population in the country is fully vaccinated.

Before this panorama, Anthony FauciThe country’s leading infectious disease expert warned on Sunday that United States likely to see record number of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths Because the Omicron version spreads fast.

“Unfortunately, I think that is going to happen. We are going to see a significant strain in the hospital system in some areas of the country, especially in areas that have low levels of vaccination.”, Fauci said on the “State of the Union” program CNN,

He continued to urge non-vaccinated people and those who received only two doses of the vaccine to receive a booster dose. Although the vaccines They cannot be the only layer of protection against the Omicron variant, he said, adding that defeating the pandemic would not be possible without them.

Fauci described Omicron as “extraordinary,” with a doubling time of two to three days. He added that this variant represents 50% of coronavirus cases in some regions of the country, so it is almost certain that it will become the dominant variant in the United States. and alerted: “It’s going to be a few weeks, a few months, difficult as we move into winter.”

read on: