Since January 15, Washington D.C. has been under the first phase of its vaccine mandate. For most indoor establishments, patrons have to show that they have received at least one dose of the vaccine against the Wuhan coronavirus, along with their photo ID to prove they are the vaccinated person. The second phase will go into effect on February 15, when patrons are required proof of full vaccination. Despite this, Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday still extended an indoor mask mandate until February 28.
ICYMI: I am extending the limited Public Health Emergency until February 15 and indoor mask requirements until February 28. pic.twitter.com/eDC6se4hGX
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) January 27, 2022
Further, Mayor Bowser is also requiring all students ages 16 and up to be fully vaccinated beginning March 1, including private and parochial school students as well.
Beginning March 1, all students eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine that has been fully approved by the FDA (currently, 16 and older) must be immunized against COVID-19. Applies to DCPS, charter, independent, private, and parochial school students. pic.twitter.com/pA51qfaORH
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) January 27, 2022
As our friends at Twitchy, highlighted, though, the vaccine has been approved by the FDA for emergency use. Further, as Phil Kerpen highlighted, the D.C. council has defined the "COVID-19 vaccine" to be one that has been approved by the FDA as opposed to one that is available under emergency use.
It is literally impossible to comply with this requirement as defined under DC Act 24-285 without traveling internationally to where Comirnaty is available.https://t.co/a3uAcNOYIT pic.twitter.com/Dh88sRLgvU
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) January 27, 2022
Congressional efforts are in place to get rid of DC's vaccine and mask mandates, including from Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), who is sponsoring legislation to drop the vaccine passports in the nation's capital.
My colleagues & I are pushing to to introduce legislation to overturn the COVID-19 vaccination passports in Washington, DC.
— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) January 25, 2022
More here??
https://t.co/6XVY6ZbAO9
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on January 20 announced a joint resolution to do away with student vaccine mandates, citing authority under The Home Rule Act of 1973.
COVID policies should be based on science and common sense, not the hysterical demands of radical liberal activists and union bosses who have no interest in what’s best for our children. 2/x https://t.co/hZ4vBJ1IqG
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 21, 2022
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who has spoken to Townhall about such efforts, is even prepared to shut down the government over vaccine mandates.
Such priorities for Mayor Bowser come as the city is experiencing a particularly alarming amount of carjackings from armed minors in their teens. Julio highlighted some examples earlier this week.
Maybe Mayor Bowser should worry about the teenagers committing armed carjackings first https://t.co/LTGt1OE3xu
— Abigail Marone ???? (@abigailmarone) January 27, 2022
As Emily Zantow reported for The Washington Times last week, carjackings in the district have tripled since 2019. Last year there were 426 recorded carjackings. A spokesperson with the Metropolitan Police Department told the outlet that they "have noticed that a large number of these crimes are committed by young teenagers."
Sam Ford reporting for ABC 7 News on Your Side profiled D.C. Council candidate Nate Fleming who had been a victim of an armed carjacking this month.
The outlet also reported that four teens, between the ages of 16 and 17 years old, were arrested on Saturday in connection with a carjacking that occurred last Thursday.
Paige Hopkins reported for Axios that in the first 20 days of the year, there had been 37 carjackings so far. She also included data that 100 juveniles were arrested last year for carjacking, up from 59 juveniles the year before.
On Monday, a 13 and a 14-year-old were arrested for an armed carjacking that also took place in the district. The two were from Maryland.
Armed carjackings by youth was a problem last year as well. Last summer, a 13 and a 15-year old were charged with felony murder and armed carjacking for the death of 66-year-old Mohammad Anwar.
D.C. youths are also referenced in reports, including from CNN, pointing to a "disturbing trend" of carjackings during the pandemic.
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