Los Angeles health officials call for indoor mask-wearing regardless of vaccination over spread of delta variant



Health officials in Los Angeles strongly urged all residents to wear masks indoors in public spaces, regardless of whether they are vaccinated, over the rise of the coronavirus delta variant.

"With increase circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health strongly recommends everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public spaces as a precautionary measure," read the statement from the County of Los Angeles Public Health.

"In the week ending June 12, Delta variants comprised of nearly half of all variants sequenced in Los Angeles County. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that Delta variants are now responsible for about one in every five new infections across the country, up from approximately one in every 10 the week before," the statement continued.

The statement from Public Health went on to make clear that experts are still gathering data from the variant in order to understand better what the risks are.

"Fully vaccinated people appear to be well protected from infections with Delta variants, however, people with only one vaccine dose of Pfizer or Moderna are not as well protected. The smaller number of COVID-19 infections identified in people who are fully vaccinated have been mild illnesses," they added.

The new guidance appeared to be in line with a statement from the World Health Organization on Friday that called for increased social distancing, even from those who are vaccinated, to prevent the spread of the delta variant among the unvaccinated.

"Vaccine alone won't stop community transmission," said Dr. Mariangela Simao, a WHO official. "People need to continue to use masks consistently, be in ventilated spaces, hand hygiene ... the physical distance, avoid crowding. This still continues to be extremely important."

Israel has already empowered health officials to order self-quarantine to residents who might have been exposed to the delta variant.

Health officials in India, where the delta variant was first discovered, have identified a far worse variant they have labeled as delta plus.

Here's more about the delta variant in Los Angeles:

Local doctors urge unvaccinated people to reconsider as Delta variant concerns risewww.youtube.com

WHO says fully vaccinated people should continue social distancing to stop community transmission of delta variant



The World Health Organization said on Friday that fully vaccinated people should continue social distancing, including the wearing of masks, in order to stop community transmission of the delta variant of the coronavirus.

The delta variant was first identified in India, where the coronavirus pandemic continues to grow and devastate the population. It has since spread to the U.S., where experts believe as many as 20% of new coronavirus cases are due to the delta variant.

Dr. Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products, told reporters on Friday that social distancing needs to continue, even for those who are fully vaccinated.

"People cannot feel safe just because they had the two doses. They still need to protect themselves," Simao said.

"Vaccine alone won't stop community transmission," Simao continued. "People need to continue to use masks consistently, be in ventilated spaces, hand hygiene... the physical distance, avoid crowding. This still continues to be extremely important, even if you're vaccinated when you have a community transmission ongoing."

On Thursday, President Joe Biden said in comments from Raleigh, North Carolina, that the emergence of the delta variant in the U.S. should encourage parents to get their children vaccinated.

"Six hundred thousand-plus Americans have died, and with this delta variant you know there's going to be others as well. You know it's going to happen," he said. "We've got to get young people vaccinated."

Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday that the emergence of the delta variant was the "greatest threat" to the effort to stamp out the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.

Health officials in India have also recently indicated that a new variant is emerging, which they call delta plus.

Here's the latest about the coronavirus delta variant:

Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb on delta variant concernswww.youtube.com

Monmouth University requiring vaccinated students to wear masks for the fall 2021 semester — and shots are mandatory



Newly released COVID-19 guidelines at Monmouth University in New Jersey require all students to wear masks — even those students who are vaccinated.

The school issued the guidelines on June 14, which state the rules are in effect for the fall 2021 semester.

What's a brief history here?

The school also recently announced that students would be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine unless the student qualified for a religious or medical exemption on a case-by-case basis. Details on what would qualify as an exemption have not yet been disclosed.

Students will be required to provide to the school proof of vaccination by Aug. 1. If students do not comply with the mandatory vaccination rule, they are subject to disciplinary action and may eventually be suspended.

The school joins the ranks of more than 450 colleges and universities requiring vaccinations for students.

What are the details?

According to a Monday report from Campus Reform, Monmouth University President Patrick Leahy said in a June 14 statement, "The university has carefully considered the role that COVID-19 vaccinations will play in safeguarding the overall health and safety of the university community. We acknowledge that reaching a high vaccination level among our community is the most important factor in resuming in-person activities across campus this fall.

"According to the CDC, universal vaccination appears to be the most effective path forward to resuming prepandemic levels of normal activity," Leahy's statement continued. "In addition to the vaccination mandate for all students, faculty and staff, the university will continue to require masks in all classroom, lab and teaching spaces, as well as the library, for everyone in attendance, regardless of vaccination status."

May 28 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that the risk of COVID-19 infection is "minimal for fully vaccinated people."

"Therefore, fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing except where required," the CDC stated in the updated guidelines.

The announcement on the school's website states, "In addition to the vaccination mandate for all students, faculty, and staff, the University will continue to require masks in all classroom, lab, and teaching spaces, as well as the library, for everyone in attendance, regardless of vaccination status.

"Individual faculty and support staff may also require students visiting their respective offices to be masked before meeting," the statement added. "Masks will not be required outdoors or in other communal spaces on campus (e.g., dining hall, student center, fitness center, etc.), unless an individual is unvaccinated and/or exhibiting one or more COVID symptoms."

In his statement, Leahy also said there would be a three-foot social distancing rule put in place "wherever any in-person instruction is taking place on campus (e.g., classroom, lab, teaching space, etc)."

"Individual faculty and support staff may also require students visiting their respective offices to adhere to the 3-feet social distance requirement," Leahy added.

What else?

Carlie Zeidler, president of the school's College Republicans chapter, told the outlet that the vaccine mandate is unconstitutional.

"Monmouth University requiring the vaccine is an outrageous attack on a person's rights," Zeidler said. "The government and, or, any institutions do not and should not have the authority to tell someone what to put in their body. Vaccines should 100% be a person's choice."