Wednesday, June 30, 2021 | 2 a.m.
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I see that the number of new COVID-19 cases recently rose to 802 locally, the most in about three months. I don’t know about anybody else, but 802 of anything is not a trivial number to me. Unfortunately, most of these new cases are among those who refuse, for whatever reason, to get vaccinated.
While some of these people would have never gotten vaccinated under any circumstances, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky did a huge disservice to the COVID recovery process by proclaiming in April that it is no longer necessary to wear masks indoors and in tight, crowded places outside. This was premature and gave justification to those who were on the fence about getting vaccinated that it was not necessary to do so. To put the mask/no-mask decision at stores and businesses into the hands of individuals was stupid, risky and ill-thought-out. It caused a lot of confusion.
President Joe Biden’s goal of having a 70% adult vaccination rate by July 4 will fall significantly short. Walensky is at least indirectly if not directly responsible for this failure.
With the new delta variant on the rise almost everywhere, Walensky’s decision seems to be the height of irresponsibility, ignorance and stupidity. How utterly disappointing and aggravating.
