(Gregg Pupecki, Headline USA) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new data on the highly mutated omicron variant of COVID-19 acknowledging that more than three quarters of new omnicron cases in USA were among those fully vaccinated.
The new strain, deemed weaker than the recent delta variant, has nonetheless reinvigorated authoritarian scaremongers both domestic and abroad. It has been detected in 25 states and health officials believe it will spread to all 50.
CNBC reported that among the cases, 58% of the patients were between 18 and 39 years of age, and 79% were fully vaccinated. Many have also received the booster shot.
Despite the new data showing vaccinated people were getting sick with omicron, health officials doubled down on vaccine mandates.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced one of the strictest mandates to date requiring masks to be worn indoors statewide unless businesses have a forced vaccine policy for staff and patrons.
According to CNBC, noncompliant businesses could be subject to both civil and criminal penalties with a maximum fine of $1,000 per violation. New York state health commissioner Mary Bassett said vaccinations were necessary to slow the spread of the omicron variant.
Outgoing New York Mayor Bill de Blasio earlier in the week announced the first in the nation vaccination mandate for 5-11 year olds in order to participate in normal everyday life.
Children will be banned from sports, band, orchestra and dance programs if they can’t show proof of vaccination. They will not be allowed in restaurants, fitness and entertainment venues.
Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., who is running for governor, told Fox News’s Brian Kilmeade, “What we need right now is more respect for individual liberty, freedom, more emphasis on therapeutics and not trying to instill fear for political calculation and to assert more government control. We have to be smarter and we have to be more consistent.”
