A mutated virus in the spring could trigger another wave in the United States, extending a state of emergency
Up to now, more than 28.32 million new cases have been confirmed in the United States, and more than 504,000 people have died.
While infections have been on the decline in many parts of the country, several experts predict that the novel coronavirus variant could trigger another wave of outbreaks in the spring.
US President Joe Biden has sent a letter to Congress extending the state of emergency in the country due to the outbreak, the White House said on Thursday.
The Biden administration also announced that it will ship more than 25 million face masks to more than 1,300 community health centers and 60,000 food distribution points across the country to help people in vulnerable and poor communities.
A pedestrian wears a mask on a street in Manhattan, New York, the United States, Jan. 26, 2019.
China News Service reporter Liao Pan photo
The U.S. could be hit by another outbreak in the spring
A member of Vice President Harris’s press corps has been diagnosed
American media said that recently, many places in the United States pandemic infection showed a downward trend, more and more Americans are being vaccinated, but the threat of mutant novel coronavirus still can not be underestimated.
So far, there have been more than 1,900 cases nationwide of the novel coronavirus variant found in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil, according to the CDC.
Experts are predicting that a highly contagious mutant novel coronavirus found in Britain could trigger another wave of infections in the United States within weeks.
Trevor Bedford, from the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, said: “This could lead to a larger wave of outbreaks in April or May than we expected.”
Bedford also said he was skeptical that the outbreak would be contained by the summer.
A member of U.S. Vice President Harris’s press corps tested positive for a novel coronavirus Wednesday.
Members of the press corps have been told to return to their homes.
That same day, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy tested positive for Novel Coronavirus, his office said.
He was in close contact with another newly infected patient a few days ago and has been in isolation ever since.
On February 16 local time, a mass vaccination station was set up at Oakland Arena in California, the United States, to open to eligible citizens.
The station will provide 6,000 doses of vaccine a day.
China News Service reporter Liu Guanguan photo
The United States is extending its state of emergency
Biden administration hands out face masks to vulnerable people
On February 24, the White House said that US President Joe Biden had sent a letter to Congress extending the state of emergency imposed in the country because of the new outbreak.
“As the new pandemic continues to pose a major threat to citizens’ health and national security,” the message said.
Therefore, the state of emergency declared on 13 March 2020 and effective on 1 March 2020 should continue beyond 1 March 2021.”
On the same day, the Biden administration also announced that it would ship more than 25 million face masks to more than 1,300 community health centers and 60,000 food distribution points across the country to help people in vulnerable and poor communities.
Between March and May, the government will distribute 25 million cloth masks in child and adult sizes that can be washed and reused, Jeff Zients, the White House’s response coordinator for the covid, announced at a news conference.
The masks will be manufactured in the United States, meet the CDC’s covid guidelines and will not affect the supply of masks to health care workers, it said.
In addition, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the $1.9 trillion epidemic relief bill on the 26th.
The House Budget Committee approved the epidemic relief bill on Tuesday.
The bill aims to stimulate the U.S. economy and implement Biden’s proposal to provide more money for vaccines and other medical devices.
Opinion polls show that Americans want more economic support, but that Democrats and Republicans in Congress are sharply divided over how best to provide it.