More Than 26.29 Million New Cases Confirmed, US Begins Mask Ban On Public Transportation

As of 6 p.m. EDT on February 1, 2,6296,906 confirmed cases and 442,962 deaths were reported in the United States, according to the Global Covid-19 Data Real-Time Statistics System released by Johns Hopkins University. In the past 24 hours, 121,950 new cases have been confirmed in the US, with 1,762 new deaths.

January has been the "worst month" of the outbreak in the United States, with about 95,300 deaths, or an average of about 3,070 deaths a day, CNN reported. But the rate of confirmed cases is slowing in most states, and the number of new patients hospitalized fell below 100,000 for the first time in two months.

But experts worry that the spread of the mutant  coronavirus could lead to another surge in cases.Coronavirus, a variant found in Britain, has spread to at least 32 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cases of the coronavirus variant found in Britain could surge in the United States in the next 6 to 14 weeks, said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.Three variants of l coronavirus found in Britain, South Africa and Brazil have been detected in the United States, the Associated Press reported.

Since February 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has required passengers and workers on public transportation systems across the United States to wear face masks, violators might get criminal penalties. According to the new rules, masks must be worn while waiting for and on public transportation, including planes, ships, trains, subways, buses, taxis and shared cars, while in or out of the United States;Masks must be worn at stations, airports and ports.Not only passengers but also transit staff must wear masks.In addition, people can take off their masks for a short time to eat, drink or take medicine, and children under the age of 2 or disabled people who cannot wear masks are exempt.