New COVID-19 Outbreaks Are Driving Some Places Back Under Lockdown And Behind Masks

https://www.npr.org/2021/06/25/ [login to see] /new-covid-19-outbreaks-are-driving-some-places-back-under-lockdown-and-behind-ma
An increase of coronavirus infections around the world is forcing some governments to reimplement lockdown measures to control the spread of the virus.

From Australia to Israel and around Europe, health officials announced new restrictions ahead of the weekend as they report clusters of outbreaks and try to mitigate further transmissions. These decisions come as the more transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus becomes the dominant strain in several countries.

The picture looks very different in the U.S., where many places are still reopening despite warnings from health officials.

This week Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health warned that the delta variant poses a serious threat to unvaccinated people. At the same time, President Biden announced that the White House will miss its goal of getting 70% of Americans vaccinated by July 4.

Restrictions in Hawaii for vaccinated travelers, for example, will be lifted next month even though the immunization rate currently remains under the state's goals.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige had previously said Hawaii would lift these travel restrictions when the state reached 60% vaccination levels. The figure went from 53% June 4 to 57% as of June 21, but Ige said the state will reach its goal by July 8.