US Omicron Spread Slows... Mask Guidelines Expected to Ease Next Week

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] In the United States, as the spread of COVID-19 due to the Omicron variant slows down, the average daily number of new confirmed cases has fallen below the peak during last year's Delta variant wave. Health authorities plan to ease mask guidelines next week.

On the 16th (local time), according to USA Today and others, Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated at a White House COVID-19 briefing that "the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are all decreasing," and "guidelines will be established soon."

The CDC currently recommends mandatory indoor mask-wearing in areas with high infection rates based on the number of cases per 100,000 people. She indicated the possibility of easing mask guidelines in some regions, saying, "When the numbers are good, we want to give people a break by lifting mask requirements."

NBC News, citing sources, reported that "in recent weeks, new Omicron infections have been declining nationwide except in Maine," and "the White House has requested the CDC to update mask guidelines before President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on the 1st of next month."

According to the New York Times (NYT) own tally, the seven-day average of new daily confirmed cases in the U.S. as of the previous day was 140,204. This is lower than the peak of 164,418 on September 1st last year during the Delta variant wave.

The number of new confirmed cases in the U.S. has decreased by 67% over the past two weeks. Compared to the highest number of cases recorded during the pandemic on the 14th of last month (806,795), it has dropped to less than one-fifth.

States including New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon, and Pennsylvania have recently announced easing of quarantine regulations such as lifting mask mandates by their state governments. Washington D.C. also withdrew the requirement to present proof of vaccination when entering businesses such as restaurants starting yesterday. From next month, the mask mandate inside businesses will also be lifted.

Private companies such as Disneyland are also lifting mask mandates for vaccinated employees. Earlier, Walmart and Amazon also lifted mask mandates for vaccinated employees only.

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