Confirmed cases increased by 50% within 10 days, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, announced the resumption of indoor masks

Within ten days, covid-19 confirmed the number of confirmed cases increased by 50%. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 11 announced the resumption of indoor masks. It is also the first major city in the United States to resume the indoor mask order, AP reported on the 12th.

According to the report, Philadelphia ended the mask order on March 2, but from March 18, restaurants, schools and various indoor business places in the city will again require people to wear masks. Cheryl Betty golly, director of the Philadelphia Department of Health, said that this round of epidemic was caused by the highly infectious Omicron virus  BA.2 “If we don’t take action now and wait for the surge in the number of hospitalizations and deaths like the previous rounds of the epidemic, it will be too late.”

The announcement of the resumption of indoor masks in Philadelphia was a “huge blow” to many small business owners who hope to resume business this spring, said the senior director of operations of the Pennsylvania catering and accommodation Association. Betty golly countered that wearing masks can ensure that indoor places such as restaurants continue to operate. If a new round of severe epidemics strikes, consumers will have to stay at home.

Reuters data showed that in the week ending on the 10th, the number of confirmed cases in Pennsylvania increased by nearly 70%, which is one of the fastest spreading states in the United States. The number of confirmed cases in the United States increased by 10% last week.