Amid rising coronavirus cases in the United States, the highly contagious Delta variant is now said to be responsible for 93 percent of the cases in the country. The highest number of infections recorded in just a day since Feb. 3 is in Texas.
On Wednesday, Texas recorded 15,558 new COVID-19 cases, reports said. State health records showed that this is the highest one-day count since February. Texas has seen a significant increase in cases since last month because of the Delta variant. From July 2 to August, the seven-day average of new daily cases increased from 1,500 to 10,000.
Texas has a mask mandate ban imposed by Governor Greg Abbott despite the increase in cases. The state health department also said that only 62.58 percent of Texans, 12 years old and older and eligible to get the vaccine, have received at least one shot.
Other Updates On COVID-19 Around The United States
In Arkansas, 253 students and school staff from the Marion School District were quarantined on their second week of the school year. The state, likewise, has a ban on school districts imposing mask mandates, and the quarantine was imposed because of 15 cases reported in the schools. This is the second time quarantine was put in place, as 168 students were already isolated a week ago.
After the second quarantine, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said he regrets signing the bill to ban mask mandates. He then asked the state legislature to amend the law so that the schools can be given the option to create their mask mandates.
In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has not yet lifted the ban on mask mandates. However, many are pushing for the lifting of such a ban after two employees from the Florida school district died from COVID-19. Carlee Simon, the superintendent for the Alachua County Schools, shared, “We’ve had 18 new cases in the last three days alone. More than 80 employees are now in quarantine, and that number is rising fast.”
In Hawaii, the State Department of Education already announced that middle and high school athletes, athletic staff, and volunteers must be fully vaccinated by September 24 if they want to participate in activities.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also recently announced that all pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and daycares must use masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.
