Visiting Buzzard Rock – Vaccination regulations for federal workers – Vaccination regulations for Broadway theater participants – Rise in vaccination rate – Evening statistics
Today I went with RS to continue investigating the best way of getting up to the ridgeline on the Virginia side of the Potomac to access Buzzard’s Rock and, what is more to the point, the best way of getting down to the river bank afterwards. There are the remains of a footpath along part of the ridge, although it is broken in parts here and there, while any way down from the heights to the Potomac remains quite a scramble. Still, it is something of a surprise that there is no trail cleared out for such a route. Buzzard Rock provides a bird’s-eye view over the Potomac to Weverton and, from the evidence of saplings cut down in places and of grasses and other low-growing plants trimmed down and pruned on the rudimentary footpath, others besides RS and myself have made our way to see it. The area is within bounds of park property, so it is possible to reach the rock outcropping without going through private property. The weather was somewhat less hot than it has been for many days previously, and during all of the time we were on the ridgeline and even when we were descending towards the river, a fresh breeze blew continually, making the hike surprisingly comfortable. I cannot say that we were entirely successful in finding a good way to get down – we had to scramble over many loose rocks at a very steep incline in places – but at any rate we found a less difficult way than the ones we had chosen during our previous excursions, and we are able, from the knowledge of the terrain we have acquired from this and previous excursions, to determine a route that, while still strenuous, could be made into a serviceable trail. On the previous occasions that I went with RS to Buzzards Rock, the weather was either too cloudy or too wet to provide much opportunity for viewing, but today was sunny and clear, with the haze from the wildfires nearly gone, and so I had the opportunity to gaze across the river to the town of Sandy Hook and the outcropping on Weverton Cliffs, where I have often ascended in the past.
Federal workers and contractors are now required to supply proof that they are vaccinated or submit to regular testing. President Biden was initially reluctant to impose extreme measures, but the rising number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths place all Americans at risk, vaccinated and unvaccinated alike, and also threaten to undermine the economy. He is paying a political price for sticking to his convictions in this matter. Several unions, which up to this point have been a significant faction in his political base, are pushing back against this requirement, saying that such a requirement violates employees’ right to privacy. Such unions include the American Postal Workers Union, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the National Treasury Employees Union, National Nurses United, and the American Federation of Government Employees, several of which represent well over 100,000 members apiece.
And another, somewhat unexpected agency is enforcing vaccinations upon its participants – namely, the Broadway theaters. When various theaters open during the coming weeks, all audience members will be required to wear masks and be able to show proof that they have been vaccinated. Vaccinations will also be required for all performers, crew members and theater employees. It will be rather curious to see how theater managers will enforce such regulations – for their own employees the matter is straightforward enough, but how will they be able to check on audience members? Will each one be required to display his vaccination card (or an authenticated copy of one) along with his ticket before entering? It does not seem practical; lines of people entering to take their seats will move much more slowly if ushers or ticket-sellers are required to scan vaccination cards of every person entering and, in general, make theater-viewing a less comfortable experience, which discourage many from seeking it.
There is an increase generally in vaccinations as the delta variant continues to spread. The number of first vaccine doses, or new people getting their first shots, is up 31% compared with a week ago and is rising in nearly every state. Nearly 800,000 shots were recorded nationwide on Sunday, the highest single-day total in weeks, while the seven-day average of reported vaccinations, including first and second shots, has risen by 16% over the past week to 615,000 shots per day as of yesterday. Unquestionably it is time. Today alone witnessed an increase of more than 90,000 new infections. The pace of daily shots remains far from peak levels, when more than 3 million daily vaccinations, counting both doses, were being reported in mid-April.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 197,951,334; # of deaths worldwide: 4,223,143; # of cases U.S.: 35,677,736; # of deaths; U.S.: 628,929. At this point about 500,000 Americans have become infected with the virus over the past week.