Surge in Cases Attributed to New Variant BA.2.86 Raises Questions on Mask Mandates
As the U.S. grapples with a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, particularly driven by the new variant BA.2.86 and the return of students to schools, concerns over potential mask mandates are sparking debate. Despite President Joe Biden’s declaration of an end to the national emergency in April, the recent rise in cases has put the nation on edge, especially with the approaching fall and winter seasons when respiratory illnesses typically surge.
While COVID-19 hospitalizations had been steadily declining since January, that trend reversed by the end of July, with a 16 percent jump reported across the country between late August and early September, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In response to the resurgence, some private institutions, hospital operators, and colleges have reinstated mask-wearing requirements for staff and visitors on their premises. These actions have raised speculation about the possibility of nationwide mask mandates returning, leading to frustration among some Republicans who oppose such measures.
According to the CDC’s tracking map, which monitors changes in the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests across all U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regions, the five states with the highest number of cases—Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma (Region 6)—have seen a 2.3 percent drop in the rate of positivity compared to the previous week. However, the positivity rate in these states remains high at 17.3 percent for the week ending September 9.
Conversely, several regions and states, including those with relatively lower numbers of positive tests, have experienced an increase in cases over the past week. In Region 2 (encompassing New Jersey and New York), positive tests rose to 14.9 percent for the week ending September 9, up by 1.9 percent from the previous week.
In Region 5, comprising Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, cases increased by 0.5 percent, with a positivity rate of 13.4 percent for the latest week.
Region 7, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, reported a 1.4 percent rise in the number of positive COVID-19 tests, reaching 16.4 percent in the week ending September 9.
In Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington), positive tests increased by 1.4 percent, reaching a positivity rate of 14.4 percent as of September 9.
Overall, the percentage of positive tests across the nation has decreased by 0.1 percent to 14.3 percent, according to CDC data.
Earlier this week, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older receive a booster shot of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines during the fall vaccination campaign. These vaccines have been adjusted to counter a new variant, XBB.1.5, even though it is no longer the dominant strain.
While the most vulnerable populations, including those aged 65 and older, residents of care facilities, individuals with compromised immune systems, and those with underlying medical conditions, remain at the highest risk of severe illness, authorities are working to extend protection against severe disease to the entire population.
“Older adults and persons with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk for hospitalization and death,” a CDC spokesperson emphasized. “In addition, healthy children and adults can still experience severe disease. The main reason to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is to protect yourself against severe illness, hospitalization, and even death.”
The situation remains dynamic, with public health officials closely monitoring the evolving pandemic landscape.