Biden: "If Republican Governors Won't Join Quarantine Efforts, They Shouldn't Interfere"

Targeting Southern Republican Governors Including Florida
All Out of Sync on Vaccine Mandates and Mask Wearing Requirements

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Joe Biden issued a strong warning to Republican governors who have officially defied the federal government's COVID-19 prevention guidelines, urging them not to obstruct pandemic control efforts. The message is interpreted as criticism of the surge in COVID-19 cases caused by conflicting prevention measures from Republican governors in states like Florida and Texas, who strongly oppose vaccination and mask mandates.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press on the 3rd (local time), President Biden said at a press conference, "I demand that some governors who do not follow prevention guidelines either help with the efforts or at least do not interfere if they will not assist." Although Biden did not directly name any states, his remarks are seen as targeting Republican-led states such as Florida and Texas, which recently rejected the Biden administration's mask re-wearing guidelines.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, both Republicans, have opposed vaccination and mask mandates since the previous Donald Trump administration. Recently, they also strongly rejected the CDC's mask re-wearing guidelines.

As a result, the Delta variant is spreading aggressively, especially in southern states like Florida and Texas. The day before, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients emphasized at a press conference that "more than one-third of new infections last week occurred in just two states, Florida and Texas," stressing the importance of following prevention guidelines.

In the U.S., the number of new cases has recently surpassed last summer's levels, and breakthrough infections among vaccinated individuals are occurring, leading to the reinstatement of mask mandates. Indoor mask mandates have been implemented in California, Atlanta, Kansas City, Washington D.C., Louisiana, and other areas. New York City and State require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms, performance venues, and entertainment facilities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.