President Biden said the exodus of millions of women from the workforce and the closure of schools – along with mental health problems for children that could arise – during Covid-19 pandemic constitutes a “national emergency”.
Norah O’Donnell, the anchor editor and manager of CBS Evening News, spoke with Mr. Biden in his first network news interview since the inauguration.
“It’s a national emergency. It’s really a national emergency,” Mr Biden said. Almost 3 million women have he left the workforce over the past year.
The president said he and his staff realized that the Trump administration’s handling of the pandemic was “even worse than I thought” once they entered the White House.
CBS news
“I thought they indicated that there was a lot more vaccine available,” Mr Biden said. “And it didn’t turn out to be the case. So that’s why we stood up in every way we can.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Mr. Biden’s chief adviser and the country’s leading doctor of infectious diseases, said 75% of Americans must be vaccinated to gain immunity. At the current rate of 1.3 million vaccines per day, CBS News has estimated that 75% of Americans will not be vaccinated by the end of 2021.
“We can’t wait that long,” Mr Biden said.
In a growing example, Mr Biden said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told him the administration could use all 32 stadiums as vaccination sites.
“Are you going to use the NFL stadiums to vaccinate?” O’Donnell asked.
“Absolutely we will,” Mr Biden said. “And, I mean, let me say that – I tell my team that they are available and I think we will use them. Look, it was one thing if we had enough vaccine, which we didn’t do. We do our best to produce more vaccines. “
“You’re the president of the United States, Commander-in-Chief. Can you do something about going to Moderna, going to Pfizer, saying we need more production?” O’Donnell asked.
“Yes. I think so, because I’ve already done it,” Mr Biden said. “But the idea that this can be done and that we can reach the herd’s immunity long before the end of next year – this summer, is very difficult.”
Mr. Biden agreed with O’Donnell that there is a mental health emergency with children outside of school.
“Do you think the time has come for schools to reopen?” O’Donnell asked.
“I think it’s time for schools to reopen safely. Safe,” Mr Biden said. “You have to have fewer people in the classroom. You must have ventilation systems that have been rebuilt. Our CDC commissioner will come out with a science-based judgment, in the framework I think, as of Wednesday, to present what the minimum requirements are. “
On Mr Biden’s first day in office, he signed an executive order to prioritize the reopening of schools within the first 100 days in office. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to launch reopening school guidance this week.
“One of the things we need to do to make sure that schools are safe is to make sure that the community spread of this disease is down and that means it is our responsibility to work to bring our children back to school in safe and for our teachers back to school safe, “CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said Friday.
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