President Biden revealed his national coronavirus strategy, calling it a “wartime enterprise” and signing a series of executive actions to “beat this pandemic”.
Biden, speaking from the Oval Office, outlined his government’s response to the coronavirus, saying it is “comprehensive, based on science, not politics” and “based on truth, not denial”.
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“Although the vaccine provides so much hope, the launch has been a terrible failure so far,” said Biden. “Let me be very clear – things will continue to get worse before they get better.”
Biden, painting a bleak but realistic picture, said the death toll from the new coronavirus is likely to reach 500,000 next month.
“We didn’t get into this mess overnight and it will take months to reverse that,” said Biden. “But let me be equally clear, let’s get over it. Help is on the way.”
Biden said his government would mount an “aggressive, safe and effective vaccination campaign” and promised to deliver 100 million vaccines in his first 100 days in office, calling it “one of the biggest operational challenges our country has ever faced”.
“We are committed to doing this – we will move heaven and earth to vaccinate more people for free and create more places for them to be vaccinated, increase the supply of vaccine and distribute it as soon as possible,” Biden said.
Biden said he instructed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to start creating federally supported vaccination centers, saying there is a goal of having up to 100 centers next month.
The president announced that the government will also launch a federal pharmacy program to make vaccines available to local community pharmacies – a move he said would be ready in early February. He also said he asked the Department of Health and Human Services to “prepare and expand the group of medical professionals who can administer the vaccine”.
Biden also said that he instructed FEMA to create a COVID-19 link for each state to maximize coordination between the federal government and states to ensure uniform distribution of the vaccine, and also said that “he would immediately start reimbursing 100% to the states for using their national guards to assist in COVID’s relief efforts, “something he said both Democratic and Republican governors asked for.
“The brutal truth – it will be months before we are able to vaccinate most of the American people,” admitted Biden, again urging Americans to “dress up” and participate in their 100-day mask challenge.
“Wearing a mask from now until April, we would save more than 50,000 lives,” said Biden,
Meanwhile, the president signed an executive action to extend the requirement to wear masks to planes, trains and buses.
Biden said that, in light of the new COVID-19 strain, the United States would institute a new measure for individuals flying to the United States from other countries. In addition to wearing masks, travelers outside the U.S. would be required to take the test before boarding the plane and quarantine upon arrival in the U.S.
“This is a full-scale wartime effort,” said Biden, noting that more than 400,000 Americans died – more than the number of American deaths in the entire Second World War.
“This is a wartime endeavor,” said Biden, adding that he invoked the Defense Production Act to prioritize the manufacture of masks and supplies needed to administer vaccines. The Trump administration also invoked the Defense Production Act to expand the manufacture of fans and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at the beginning of the pandemic.
With regard to schools, Biden said he instructed the Department of Education and HHS to provide schools and communities with “clear guidelines and resources for reopening schools and daycare centers safely,” saying it would send families back to work.
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As for the tests, Biden said he is launching a COVID-19 test board and putting “all the strength of the federal government in expanding the tests”.
Biden said the government’s strategy would be based on science and said health officials “will work free from political interference and make decisions based only on science and health”.
“Vice President Harris, me and our government will always be honest and transparent with you, both on the good and the bad news,” said Biden, adding that “they will always be honest with you when we make a mistake.”
“Despite the best intentions, we will face setbacks, which I will always explain to you,” said Biden. “But you also know, we can do this if we are together.”
Biden, echoing the sentiment in his inaugural speech, said: “Ultimately, our plan is based on unity and all of us acting as a nation.”
“This is the plan,” said Biden. “This is the plan.”
Biden signed a series of executive actions related to the Oval Office’s COVID-19, which guided federal agencies to carry out a variety of reforms aimed at, among other things, filling the supply gaps. The White House will establish a COVID-19 Response Office responsible for coordinating the multi-faceted effort among federal agencies.
Biden’s first stated goal is to “restore trust with the American people”, working for transparency in decision-making, conducting regular briefings and leading “scientific public health campaigns”.
“To rebuild the confidence of the American people, the National Strategy will signal clear public leadership and a commitment to a robust government-wide response that puts science first,” says the strategy document. “The federal government will be transparent to the American people, maintaining an open line of communication with the public and all interested parties.”
Biden, since taking office, has also restored the National Security Council entity, created by former President Obama to deal with pandemics. The president also sent letters informing the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) that the U.S. would reverse Trump’s decision to withdraw from WHO.
The battle against the coronavirus is hitting an obstacle: several states are reporting they are running out of vaccines and tens of thousands of people who have managed to schedule a first dose are seeing them canceled.
The drive to vaccinate Americans has faced shortages as states dramatically increase their vaccination initiatives, under the guidance of the federal government, to reach people aged 65 and over, along with other groups deemed essential or at high risk.
About half of the 31 million doses distributed to the states by the federal government have been administered so far, although only about 2 million people have received the two doses required for maximum protection against COVID-19, according to the Centers for Control and Prevention of Diseases.
Sam Dorman and The Associated Press of Fox News contributed to this report.