President Joe Biden signed another series of executive actions on his second day in office – focusing on dealing with the pandemic COVID-19.
Jim Watson | AFP via Getty Images
Updated: 15:49
President Biden signed a series of orders and guidelines on his second day in office to stop the spread of the coronavirus – steps he and his advisers say he will begin to boost testing, vaccinations, supplies and treatments.
Speeding up the slow federal response to COVID-19 is Biden’s top priority, and he promised 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days.
“Although the vaccine provides so much hope, the launch has been a terrible failure so far. So I understand the despair and frustration of so many Americans and how they are feeling,” said Biden in comments shortly before signing the pile of executive actions. .
“We didn’t get into this mess overnight and it will take months to change things. But let me be equally clear: let’s get over this. Let’s defeat this pandemic. And for a nation waiting for action, let me be clearer. on this point: help is on the way. “
Biden commented on his government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. To watch on here:
The president it is also lobbying Congress for another $ 1.9 trillion in relief, a package that would include direct payments to Americans, support for small businesses and a huge increase in funding for vaccines and tests.
The pandemic relief effort is a means of advancing the strategy that his team has developed, starting with 10 executive orders and directives, COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters.
“Last week, you heard the president expose his vaccine strategy,” said Zients, adding that on Thursday, Biden will advance “the roadmap to guide America out of this public health crisis.”
One order directs agencies to use the Defense Production Act to address critical deficiencies in 12 categories of items needed to test, treat and vaccinate people for COVID-19 – vaccines, N95 masks, lab coats, gloves, test supplies and kits , laboratory analysis of machines, therapeutic drugs and other supplies – and will work to stimulate the production of items in the United States.
“This is a wartime enterprise,” said Biden on Thursday.
“We are in a national emergency and it is time to treat it as such.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki gave a daily news conference on Thursday, alongside Dr. Anthony Fauci. To watch on here:
Biden also signed a memorandum to instruct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fully reimburse states for vaccination and test supplies and National Guard shipping costs associated with the pandemic. Biden plans to establish the COVID-19 Pandemic Testing Board to drive testing.
Other orders and guidelines are for:
-
require masks on planes and buses and airports, as well as require travelers to have a negative coronavirus test before flying to the United States
-
direct further studies and trials of COVID-19 treatments
-
requires more public data on cases and vaccinations
-
offer more guidance to schools on reopening
-
direct the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to provide guidance for workplaces
-
establish a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force to make recommendations on how to ensure that the poorest communities most affected by the pandemic are treated more fairly
Biden also plans to support the global response to the pandemic and will join the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility and other multilateral initiatives.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
You make MPR News possible. Individual donations are behind the clarity in covering our reporters across the state, stories that connect us and conversations that provide perspectives. Help ensure that MPR remains a resource that unites Minnesotans.
Donate today. A $ 17 gift makes the difference.