Delta Variant Causes Increase In Infection Cases In US, New York Implements Vaccination Requirements For Access To Public Spaces

Illustration of COVID-19 in New York, United States. (Wikimedia Commons/The National Guard)

JAKARTA - The New York City Authority officially announced the implementation of the COVID-19 proof of vaccination requirements, for residents who wish to access restaurants, fitness centers and other commercial facilities Tuesday local time.

The announcement, made directly by Mayor Bill de Blasio, made New York a major city in the United States (US) that implemented the rules for vaccination requirements, in the midst of efforts to combat the Delta variant of COVID-19.

This measure is the widespread availability and affordability of a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as options for combating COVID-19 by vaccination and wearing masks, instead of closing businesses and asking people to stay at home.

According to this policy, residents who want to access public places need proof that they have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, this policy will only take effect from September 13 next.

However, like last year's orders to wear masks and stay-at-home orders, the plans are likely to meet stiff resistance. In addition, government vaccine passports are also highly controversial among Americans, especially conservatives.

"It's time for people to see vaccinations as literally necessary to live a good and full and healthy life," de Blasio, a Democrat, told a news conference.

Illustration of COVID-19 in the United States. (Wikimedia Commons/Jpesch95)

New York City data shows that about 60 percent of the city's population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, certain areas, mostly poor communities and communities of color, have much lower vaccination rates.

The city's announcement comes as cases soar nationwide. Florida and Louisiana have emerged as the latest hot spots, with the burden on hospitals continuing to grow. Both states have both reported record numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Patient spike

More than 11,300 patients were hospitalized in Florida as of Tuesday, with COVID patients making up 22 percent of the state's hospital beds, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Louisiana is also dealing with one of the worst outbreaks in the country, prompting Governor John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, to order residents to wear masks again indoors.

Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Los Angeles County nearly quadrupled in the past four weeks to 1,096 as of Monday, the public health department said. The percentage of tests that came back positive for the virus also rose to 6.2 percent, up from 1.3 percent a month ago, according to departmental data.

To combat the spread in California, political leaders in eight areas of the San Francisco Bay Area this week re-enacted mandatory indoor masks. Governor Gavin Newsom late last month mandated all civil servants to be vaccinated from August 2 or undergo a COVID-19 test at least once a week.

Illustration of a COVID-19 vaccination. (Wikimedia Commons/Claude TRUONG-NGOC)

In contrast, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took a different stance. In his executive order last week, he banned schools from requiring face masks, saying parents should make that decision for their children.

The Sunshine State claimed another grim record with the highest number of pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations - 138 on Tuesday, more than Texas has recorded despite its larger population. However, DeSantis defended the country's approach at yesterday's press conference.

"We're not closing. We're going to open schools. We're protecting the jobs of every Florida citizen in this state. We're protecting people's small businesses," DeSantis said.

In Arkansas, another state where hospitalizations for COVID-19 have spiked, Governor Asa Hutchinson said he would ask state legislators on Wednesday to grant exceptions to laws that bar state and local governments, including school boards, from require masks.

This move by a number of states followed by the private sector, including many large US companies, has also taken several steps in response to the Delta variant threat.

The top three Detroit automakers and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union said Tuesday they would reimpose the requirement to wear masks in all factories, offices and warehouses from Wednesday but would not require workers to be vaccinated.

Meanwhile, big tech companies like Alphabet's Google and Facebook say all US employees must be vaccinated to enter the office. Meanwhile, Tyson Foods yesterday required all workers to be immunized to combat the COVID-19 virus, making it one of the private companies to require vaccination.