WASHINGTON – With an explosion of executive order, President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that the American war against COVID-19 is under new command, promising a nation eager to move forward to reduce infections and lift the siege it has endured for nearly a year.
The 10 orders signed by Biden are aimed at launching its national COVID-19 strategy to increase vaccinations and testing, lay the groundwork for reopening schools and businesses, and immediately increase the use of masks – including a requirement that Americans can mask for travel. . A directive calls for addressing health inequalities in minority communities severely affected by the virus.
“I didn’t get into this mess overnight and it will take months to get this back,” Biden told the White House. The US death toll exceeded 400,000 and mentioned forecasts that it could reach 500,000 in a month.
But then, looking directly at the TV camera, Biden said, “For a nation waiting for action, let me be clear on this point: Help is on the way.”
The new president has promised to take much more aggressive measures to contain the virus than his predecessor, starting with strict adherence to public health guidelines. A key difference is that, under Biden, the federal government assumes full responsibility for COVID’s response. And instead of delegating major tasks to states, he offers to help them with technical support and federal money.
He faces steep obstacles, with the virus spreading actively in most states, a lack of vaccines, slow progress in distribution, and political uncertainty over whether Republicans in Congress will help him pass an $ 1.9 trillion economic cut. dollars and a COVID response package.
Added to the challenges are viral mutations, especially one that has occurred in South Africa, which can make vaccines somewhat less effective. Dr. Anthony Fauci told reporters at the White House briefing that “we pay special attention to it.” Biden’s plan includes an expansion of research capabilities to identify the genetic structure of new variants.
On Thursday, an influential group of Republican incumbents backed the president’s strategy. The US Chamber of Commerce said: “We support the new administration’s focus on removing barriers to vaccination and reopening schools, both of which are important steps in accelerating a large-scale economic recovery for all Americans.”
Biden officials said they were hampered by the Trump administration’s lack of cooperation during the transition. They say they do not have a complete understanding of their predecessor’s actions on vaccine distribution. And they face a lot of complaints from states that they don’t get enough vaccine, even if they are asked to vaccinate more than one category of people.
Biden’s travel mask application applies to airports and airplanes, ships, intercity buses, trains and public transport. Travelers from abroad must provide a negative COVID-19 test before leaving for the US and must be quarantined on arrival. Biden has already mandated masks on federal property.
Although airlines, Amtrak and other transport providers now require masks, Biden’s order makes it a federal mandate, leaving little room for tempted passengers to argue about their rights. The action was applauded by the air unions and supported by a major industry trade group.
It marks a sudden break with the culture of President Donald Trump’s administration, under which masks were optional, and Trump set out to go without a mask and host large gatherings of supporters with the same idea. Science has shown that properly worn masks reduce coronavirus transmission.
Biden said his administration’s coronavirus decisions will be based on science, not politics.
Biden is trying to expand vaccine testing and availability with a goal of 100 million photos in its first 100 days of operation. But some independent experts say his administration should strive two to three times that number. Even with the slow pace of vaccinations, the US is already closing with 1 million photos a day.
“It’s a disappointingly low bar,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a public health expert and emergency physician.
Asked about this at the White House on Thursday, Biden told a reporter: “When I announced it, you all said it was not possible. Come on, give me a break, man. ”
Fauci told reporters that the United States could return to “a degree of normalcy” until the fall, if the vaccination campaign goes well. Achieving widespread immunity or “herd” would require the vaccination of 280 million people.
Biden ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to start setting up vaccination centers, aiming to have 100 operations in a month. He ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to begin a program to make vaccines available at local pharmacies starting next month, based on a plan devised by the Trump administration. And launch an effort to train more people to manage photos.
Biden has set a goal for most K-8 schools to be reopened in its first 100 days and orders the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services to provide clear guidance for their safe reopening. States could also reach out to the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund to help open schools.
Putting schools and childcare into operation will help ease the life of the US economy by making it easier for parents to return to work and restaurants to find customers at lunch.
However, administration officials stressed that the safe reopening of schools depends on increased testing.
Biden is giving the green light to government agents to use the Cold War Defense Production Act. It allows the government to direct private industry to produce the necessary supply in times of national emergency. In this case, it could be anything from tampons, masks, to certain chemicals.
“We don’t have nearly enough testing capacity in this country,” said Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus coordinator.
The Biden plan estimates that a national vaccination strategy with extensive testing requires $ 160 billion and wants another $ 170 billion to help reopen schools and universities.
As part of its strategy, Biden has ordered the establishment of a working group on health equity to ensure that minority and disadvantaged communities are not left out of the government’s response. Blacks, Latins, and Native Americans have borne a heavy burden of death and disease caused by the virus. Surveys have shown that the vaccine is more hesitant among African Americans, an issue the administration intends to address through an education campaign.
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Associated Press writers Collin Binkley and Josh Boak contributed to this report.