The rapid spike in COVID cases is causing medical experts to raise red flags once again. CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen said it’s time to “do something dramatic to protect our country.” This comes as the United States experiences a 121% increase in COVID cases over the last two weeks. The New York Times writes:

Hot spots have emerged in recent weeks in parts of Missouri, Arkansas and Nevada, among other states, leaving hospital workers strained as they care for an influx of coronavirus patients. Less than a month after reports of new cases nationally bottomed out at around 11,000 a day, virus cases overall are increasing again, with about 26,000 new cases a day, and hospitalizations are on the rise.

The increase prompted one of the biggest cities in the country to reinstate mask mandates. According to the Los Angeles Times:

Just a month ago, Los Angeles County and the rest of California celebrated a long-awaited reopening, marking the tremendous progress made in the battle against COVID-19 by lifting virtually all restrictions on businesses and other public spaces. Now, the coronavirus is resurgent, and the nation’s most-populous county is scrambling to beat back the pandemic’s latest charge.

Starting Saturday night, residents will again be required to wear masks in indoor public spaces, regardless of their vaccination status.

Watch more from ABC News above.