Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, July 30 (Reporter Yang Shuyi) Due to the worsening of the new crown epidemic in a month, Washington, the capital of the United States, is scheduled to implement a more stringent "mask order" starting from July 31, requiring people aged two and above to wear masks in indoor public places regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not.
The above measures are roughly consistent with the latest recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended on the 27th that vaccinated groups should still wear masks in indoor public places in areas with high epidemic transmission; unvaccinated groups should wear masks in indoor public places in all areas.
On July 28, at the White House in Washington, USA, a sign requiring masks was posted at the door of the news briefing room. (Xinhua News Agency, photo by Shen Ting)
Washington Mayor Murill Bowser announced on the 29th that the capital will implement a stricter mask order from the 31st. All people aged two and above must wear masks when they are indoor public places and can only take off their masks when they "eat and drink water."
She said: "We will continue to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of Washington, DC."
La Kundera Nesbitt, the head of the public health department of Washington, said on the 29th that the epidemic in Washington slowed down at the beginning of this month, but the epidemic has worsened recently. By the end of the month, the level of new confirmed cases of new crown cases has soared by five times compared with the beginning of the month.
On July 7, people visited near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, the capital of the United States. (Photo by Liu Jie, Xinhua News Agency)
According to government statistics, more than half of Washington residents have completed the COVID-19 vaccination. Nesbitt said that according to her understanding, cases of vaccinated people infected with the new coronavirus accounted for less than 1% of all infected people in recent months, indicating that the vaccine "exerted the expected effect" and that vaccination can help "prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death."
The Smithsonian Institution of the United States announced on the 29th that all its indoor cultural and museum venues will implement stricter mask orders from the 30th, and all tourists aged two and above must wear masks to enter the hall regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not. Many museums, art galleries and other institutions under the Smithsonian Institution are located in Washington. It is the peak summer tourism season, and a large number of tourists enter downtown Washington.
The Smithsonian Institution announced last month that vaccinated tourists do not need to wear masks when entering the museum. As the epidemic worsens, the Smithsonian Institution has had to modify this regulation.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at the end of April this year that the number of people who have completed the COVID-19 vaccination can engage in more indoor and outdoor activities without wearing masks. On May 13, the CDC no longer recommends that those who have completed vaccination wear masks when participating in indoor and outdoor activities. However, due to the accelerated spread of the highly contagious mutant virus Delta strain, the number of confirmed cases of new coronavirus in the United States increased by 300% from June 19 to July 23.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
