In the USA, the number of corona infections is rising again.
Two states are now cranking the easing lever.
Joe Biden is annoyed.
Washington - US President Joe Biden has scolded some Republican governors for their corona policies.
"If you don't help, at least avoid the people who are trying to do the right thing," demanded Biden on Tuesday afternoon (local time).
He explicitly named two US states as negative examples.
"Only two states, Florida and Texas, are responsible for a third of all new Covid-19 cases in the entire country."
Corona in the USA: Biden criticizes governors - "not willing to do the right thing"
In some states, the mask requirement is forbidden in schools, complained Biden.
In Texas, universities could even be fined for teachers asking unvaccinated students to wear a mask.
The two Republican governors Greg Abbott from Texas and Ron DeSantis from Florida have recently spoken out particularly loudly against a mask requirement in their states and even banned it.
Biden, who is driving a much more cautious Corona course than his predecessor Donald Trump, has no understanding of the ongoing easing.
“Use your power to save lives,” demanded the democratic politician.
“We need leadership from everyone.
And some governors are unwilling to do what is right to fight this pandemic. "
Corona in the USA: Biden praises mandatory vaccination - the number of infections is increasing
Biden also explicitly praised public and private employers who have introduced compulsory vaccinations for their employees. This is not an easy step, but he will support companies and authorities in this. The US government announced last week that its employees - there are several million nationwide - will in future either have to prove their vaccinations or have themselves regularly tested for an infection. In the United States, 70 percent of adults are now vaccinated at least once. Biden actually wanted to reach this milestone on the national holiday on July 4th, but the vaccination campaign in the United States has recently stagnated.
The number of daily vaccinations is currently increasing again - as is the number of new infections.
In June, the number of new cases had dropped to an average of around 10,000 a day.
Since then, however, it has risen again to an average of 80,000 per day due to the more contagious Delta variant.
In Florida alone, more than 10,000 corona patients are treated in hospitals.
Also because of these numbers, Biden clearly criticizes the easing in the "Sunshine State".
USA: Abbott and DeSantis in focus - "How the hell should I be able to drink a beer with the mask on?"
It's not the first time the two governors have hit the headlines. Contrary to the recommendation from the White House, Abbott had already massively relaxed several times in Texas. In the state with a population of 29 million, the mask requirement and closed restaurants were prematurely adopted. It was "time to open Texas 100 percent," Abbott said in March. Contact restrictions have also been significantly relaxed. “It has to come to an end,” said Abbot. Biden criticized the relaxation as "Neanderthal thinking".
His counterpart Ron DeSantis drew thousands of people to Florida in April to celebrate the spring break. The fact that the drama, which was criticized as a “superspreader event”, was able to take place at all was due in particular to the relaxation of the Republican governor. “Florida is open,” DeSantis proudly proclaimed at the time. Because of his populist politics, he is already referred to as the new Donald Trump. DeSantis wants to maintain its easing course. Most recently, his campaign team sold T-shirts with the governor's quote "How the hell am I supposed to be able to drink a beer with the mask on?"
(as / dpa)
