Amid a mild increase in COVID-19 cases, America finds itself in the midst of a renewed discussion on masks and health mandates, though the risk of severe outcomes remains significantly lower than at previous peaks of the pandemic.
Federal data reveals a rise to 12,600 weekly hospitalizations by mid-August. To put this into context, this number is twice what it was in June but significantly less than the 150,000 weekly hospitalizations observed during the height of the omicron wave in early 2022.
Los Angeles witnessed a slight uptick in its cases, leading to media company Lionsgate advising its employees on select floors to don N-95 or KN-95 masks, as disclosed in a memo accessed by Deadline outlet.
Kaiser Permanente, a well-respected healthcare provider, reinstated mask-wearing protocols at its Santa Rosa, California locations, pointing to a consistent rise in cases over several weeks.
Similarly, Atlanta’s Morris Brown College recently announced a two week mask requirement for its faculty and students, though masks can be removed when individuals are alone.
The Department of Defense (DOD) has also reinstituted mask mandates in some locations. A memorandum signed by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks stated, “In areas of substantial or high community transmission, DOD requires all service members, federal employees, onsite contractor employees and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask in an indoor setting in installations and other facilities owned, leased or otherwise controlled by DOD.”
The return to mask mandates, albeit localized, has stirred debates online, with sentiments like “do not comply” gaining traction on certain platforms.
Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, commented on the situation: “I don’t think the term surge is appropriate at this stage of COVID-19. However, cases are up all over the country.”
He was quick to highlight that there’s a silver lining: “Hospitals are not threatened” since current cases are “extremely decoupled from severe disease due to immunity in the population.”
With the coronavirus less of a daily concern for many Americans compared to 2020 and 2021, face masks have become an infrequent sight in public spaces. This year’s major COVID-19 discussions largely revolved around the virus’s origins – whether it transitioned from animals or emerged from a lab in China.
Fortunately, most Americans contracting the virus are experiencing mild symptoms, credited to either vaccination-induced immunity or prior exposure to the virus. As of mid-July, weekly death counts remained under 500, a stark contrast to the peak of 25,000 deaths per week in January 2021.
Dr. Adalja pointed to seasonal patterns, suggesting, “We have seen this type of rise every summer when it comes to COVID-19.” Potential reasons for the increase include reduced immunity over time and indoor gatherings during hot weather.
While President Biden hasn’t indicated a national return to stringent COVID-19 mandates, past measures, such as mask rules and vaccination mandates, elicited strong responses. As Biden gears up for reelection next year, it remains to be seen how the administration will navigate public health guidance.
Amidst these discussions, there’s anticipation for updated COVID-19 booster shots this fall, with an emphasis on the XBB variant.
Kathleen Conley, spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that the vaccines are being revised “with the goal of providing the best protection against currently circulating strains.” She confirmed that once authorized or approved by the FDA, the CDC will communicate their recommended usage to the public.
While it is clear there is a mild rise in COVID-19 cases, it is fascinating that talk of mask mandates and revised vaccinations are springing up as we are entering an election year.
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