US National Hockey League cancels games amid coronavirus wave as record number of NFL players test positive for COVID-19

 US National Hockey League cancels games amid coronavirus wave as record number of NFL players test positive for COVID-19.

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In the United States, the National Hockey League has canceled several games for the remainder of December, making it the first major professional sports league in North America to go on hiatus due to increasing cases of the omicron variant. . This comes as the National Football League broke another record in a single day after 47 players tested positive for coronavirus on Monday.

More Headlines from December 21, 2021

WHO urges cancellation of meetings for the end of the year festivities as the omicron variant spreads at a record pace

The World Health Organization has warned that the omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading faster than even the delta variant and that vaccinated people are catching this variant at a much higher rate than other forms of the virus. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on governments to impose more public health measures to contain the pandemic, saying that many of the year-end festivities should be canceled.

Omicron surpasses delta as the dominant variant of the coronavirus and now accounts for 75% of the total number of cases in the US.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “Canceling an event is better than canceling a life. It's better to cancel now and celebrate later than to celebrate now and mourn later. "

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, for its acronym in English) warn that omicron has overtaken delta as the dominant variant of the coronavirus, since it currently represents 75% of new infections . The Pentagon said it will deploy teams of naval doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists to the states of Wisconsin and Indiana, as hospitals in those regions face a shortage of free beds and medical workers.

New York confirms a record number of coronavirus infections for the fourth consecutive day

New York state recorded a record number of daily infections Monday for the fourth day in a row, and the omicron variant now accounts for 90% of cases in the state. Among those who have tested positive for coronavirus is Dr. Mary Bassett, acting commissioner of health for New York. Bassett, who is fully vaccinated and has received a booster dose, did not show any symptoms.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that the increase in cases of the omicron variant could peak in a few weeks. Additionally, de Blasio stated that the city will turn to more diagnostic testing and vaccination requirements at private companies rather than imposing another large-scale lockdown.

Mayor Bill de Blasio: “COVID-19 is bad for business. Lockdowns are bad for business. Restrictions are bad for business. We cannot allow that to happen again. So the vaccination and diagnostic requirements that we established are the way to go. "

The White House to distribute 500 million free coronavirus tests to be done at home

President Biden will pronounce on the situation of the omicron variant this Tuesday in a speech to the nation. The White House will distribute, free of charge, 500 million rapid tests for the coronavirus to be done at home, which will be sent to the homes of all Americans who request them. The Biden government also plans to establish 20,000 new diagnostic testing centers across the country. On Monday, the White House announced that a staff member who was recently with President Biden aboard the presidential Air Force One plane tested positive for coronavirus. Biden has reportedly tested negative on diagnostic tests since that time.