Cases of COVID-19 are surging across the country, including in major U.S. cities that have mandated masks and vaccinations amid the spread of the omicron variant.
New York City averaged 36,856 reported cases per day as of Monday, which is a 517% increase from the average two weeks ago, according to government data compiled by The New York Times.
Weeks before his term expired in December, former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that effective Dec. 14, the city government would require proof of vaccination for indoor dining, fitness and entertainment from children as young as 5 years old. Beginning Dec. 27, New Yorkers aged 12 and older were required to show proof of two vaccine doses, except for those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
New York state, which before had peaked at 251,000 daily cases last January, has been seeing an average of about 400,000 cases daily in 2022, according to The New York Times.
Washington, D.C., which reinstated an indoor mask mandate on Dec. 21, has also continued to see a surge of COVID-19. According to data compiled by The New York Times that was updated Monday, the nation’s capital is averaging 2,103 cases per day, which is a 485% increase over the past two weeks and the highest one-week spike of the entire pandemic.
The high number of test positivity rates further indicate that the number of cases in the nation’s capital is being “significantly undercounted.”
Effective Jan. 15, District residents 12 and older must provide proof of at least one dose of vaccine at restaurants, bars, nightclubs, indoor entertainment facilities, gyms and indoor meeting establishments. By Feb. 15, proof of two doses of vaccine will be required, except for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Other major cities that have seen large spikes of COVID-19 despite mask or vaccine mandates include Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles.
Story continues at: Covid Break Out
