Written by Will Hekman
After months of decline, COVID-19 cases have been on the rise across the nation, with new cases per day doubling over the last three weeks. Infections increased to an average of 23,600 per day on Monday, an increase from 11,300 on June 23rd. All but Maine and South Dakota reported an increase in cases over the last two weeks.
Vaccination rates continue to increase, with 55.6% of all Americans having received at least one vaccine according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. The states with the highest two-week jump in cases all had lower vaccination rates: Missouri at 45.9%, Arkansas at 43%, Nevada at 50.9%, Louisiana at 39.2%, and Utah at 49.5%. Despite the rise in cases, the U.S has kept deaths at 260 per day on average.
Even with the vaccine and an increase in vaccine marketing, officials in many states and cities push a continuation or restart of COVID lockdown policies.
Los Angeles County has told those who have been immunized to continue wearing masks in public. Chicago now requires those who are unvaccinated from Missouri and Arkansas to have a negative COVID test or quarantine for 10 days. New Orleans will continue its mask mandate until the fall.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan is facing calls to repeal a law that allowed her to place restrictions during the early stages of the pandemic. However, some states such as Alabama, are pushing back on calls to return to lockdown policies. “Alabama is OPEN for business. Vaccines are readily available, and I encourage folks to get one. The state of emergency and health orders have expired. We are moving forward,” said Republican Governor of Alabama Kay Ivey.
The rise in cases has caused many to sound the alarm and push for mask and lockdown policies. Dr. James Lawler of the University of Nebraska said that masks and limited social gatherings will curb cases. Lawler also warned about the delta variant, which is on the rise in Britain, “The descriptions from regions of the world where the delta variant has taken hold and become the predominant virus are pictures of ICUs full of 30-year-olds. That’s what the critical care doctors describe and that’s what’s coming to the U.S.,” he said.
To increase vaccinations, particularly among young people, the Biden Administration has brought in eighteen-year-old singer Olivia Rodrigo who will meet with Dr. Fauci at the White House today. With many Americans fearful that elected officials and bureaucrats will reimpose lockdown policies that shut down businesses and destroyed lives, the White House brings in a pop singer with no medical background to push vaccinations.
