Washington, United States
More than 30 million people celebrated Christmas in the US this Friday with fear of losing their homes due to paralysis surrounding the new stimulus package and as Los Angeles hospitals run out of medical supplies to care for new patients. COVID-19.
“We know that this has been a very difficult year for many in our country. And in these times we need to focus on hope and the humanity that unites us,” President-elect Joe Biden said in a video with his wife, Jill , and in which they both appear on a sofa with Christmas decorations in the background.
Biden, what takes office on January 20, tribute to all those Americans who have lost their jobs since the start of the pandemic and also those who have difficulty eating or paying their mortgage and rent.
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“Many Americans face their first Christmas after losing someone,” admitted Jill, who recalled that she and her husband know firsthand that feeling for the 2015 loss of Beau Biden, one of the first’s children. . Vice President at Barack Obama (2009-2017).
“We know that a kind word can mean a lot in times of pain,” said Jill Biden, wife of the US president-elect.
Unemployment, deportation and poverty
The Biden family made no mention of the stimulus package left in the dark by outgoing President Donald Trump’s demands; Although that is the issue that most worries millions of Americans who have been waiting for government aid for months.
On Monday evening, Congress approved a $ 900 billion stimulus plan to help the US economy hit by the pandemic, which includes $ 600 direct payments, and $ 300 weekly unemployment benefits and small business loans.
The package was approved after months of tough negotiations between Democrats and Republicans; But surprisingly, Trump on Tuesday threatened to veto that package if it doesn’t include an increase from $ 600 to $ 2,000 in direct payments.
Congress has refused to include these and other changes, and now the stimulus package faces an uncertain future as it cannot go into effect without Trump’s signing.
In concrete terms, this means that 14 million Americans could see their unemployment benefits expire on Saturday, and by the end of the month, 30 million would face deportations, which have been blocked so far.
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In addition, 10 million Americans have lost their jobs since the pandemic restrictions began in March, and another 8 million people have fallen into poverty since June, when the first federal aid ended, according to a study from the University of Chicago.
If the new stimulus package goes ahead, it would be the emergency room for millions of Americans since March, when Congress gave the green light for a $ 2.2 trillion bailout, the largest in history. from the USA
Long wait at food banks
The situation has resulted in long queues of vehicles waiting for hours at the doors of food banks for the past few days, a scene that occurred on Thanksgiving and has been repeated in several cities before Christmas, such as Mesa, Arizona and Houston, Texas.
The Salvation Army, a Protestant organization, usually delivers about 2.6 million meals for Christmas, but this year there are more than 6 million, the group’s director, Kenneth G. Hodder, told Fox.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that there has been a tsunami of human distress,” Hodder complained.
Los Angeles is almost without medical supplies
On the other hand, the virus continues to overwhelm the United States, which saw an increase of more than 3,000 deaths yesterday, according to the independent count from Johns Hopkins University.
California, which surpassed two million infections on Thursday, has become the new epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, and Los Angeles County hospitals are struggling to find the necessary medical supplies for care. patients.
For example, many hospitals are running out of oxygen, and the collapse is such that in some cases patients have to wait up to eight hours in an ambulance before entering the emergency room, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. .
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This happens while the county’s intensive care units have 100% capacity.
According to Johns Hopkins University, 18.6 million cases and more than 329,000 deaths have been recorded in the US since the start of the pandemic.