BEIJING: Despite its advanced medical research and healthcare system, the United States has been leading the world in COVID-19 fatalities and cases.
The country is now in the grip of the “third wave” of the pandemic, one which is much larger than the previous two and has hit the Midwest hardest of all.
The death toll is expected to continue rising, fueled by travel over the Christmas and New Year holidays and lax adherence to mask-wearing and other precautions.
Masks are seen globally as a key tool to contain COVID-19. In many other countries, mask mandates are becoming the norm, but the debate over masks continues in the US.
The top US health officials first told people they should not wear masks and then reversed their guidance. Public health experts have emphasized the importance of wearing masks, which US President Donald Trump has not fully supported.
Trump has long been reluctant to wear a mask in public. He also has refused to introduce a nationwide mandate, saying he wants people to have “a certain freedom”.
Critics said the mask mandate in religious settings violated the free exercise of religion. The Supreme Court, with a strong 6-3 conservative majority, has sided with the religious groups against COVID-19-related restrictions in New York, Colorado and New Jersey.
Mask controversies: Tensions over mask requirements have led to violence in some states. A store security guard in Michigan was shot dead by a customer whose family was told they needed to wear masks to enter the store. Anti-mask protests have continued across the country for months.
Local health officials in California, South Dakota and other states were harassed and threatened for issuing mask mandates. Some cities had to reverse their mask orders or abruptly ended public health meetings under the pressure of anti-mask protests.
State and local governments have varied widely on implementation of mask rules. California was the first to order a statewide mask mandate in June, with many states following suit.
– The Daily Mail-China Daily News exchange item
