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u.s. news Diabierna 3 December 2021

Pushing COVID-19 boosters, Biden says ‘we need to be ready’

(AP) — With rising num- day pulls no punches in the “Go get your booster now,”
bers of COVID-19 cases fight against COVID-19, and Biden said.
predicted this winter, it’s a plan that I think should
President Joe Biden on unite us,” he Biden said. Seniors are in the popula-
Thursday appealed for tion most vulnerable to the
Americans to get their Legal challenges have held virus, and the Centers for
boosters and get behind up Biden’s vaccination- Medicare & Medicaid Ser-
his plan to tackle the new or-testing requirement for vices will send a notice to all
omicron variant through workers at larger employers, 63 million Medicare benefi-
wider availability of vac- and that’s led the president ciaries encouraging them to
cines and shots, but with- to urge businesses to impose get booster doses, the White
out new major restrictions their own mandates so com- House said. The AARP will
on daily life. panies can stay open without work with the administration
outbreaks. on education campaigns for
Biden wants to require pri- seniors.
vate insurers to cover the cost His administration has come being drafted, and details re- in the U.S.
of at-home COVID-19 tests to view widespread adoption So far about 42 million main to be worked out, offi-
and he is tightening test- of booster shots as its most Americans, about half of cials said. The White House has not
ing requirements for people effective tool for combat- them seniors, have received yet acted to require domes-
entering the United States, ing COVID-19 this winter. a booster dose. The Centers People insured by Medicare tic U.S. travelers to be vacci-
regardless of their vaccina- Medical experts say boosters for Disease Control and Pre- and Medicaid would not be nated or get tested. Officials
tion status. While some other provide enhanced and more vention this week broadened eligible, but the White House believe such a requirement
countries are closing their enduring protection, includ- its booster dose recommen- said as many as 150 million would be mired in litigation.
borders or reinstituting lock- ing against new variants. dation to cover all Ameri- people with private insurance
downs, the president said he cans at least age 18, starting would see easier and cheaper “We base our decisions on
would not at this time im- Much remains unknown six months after their second access to the at-home tests. the advice of the health and
pose additional clampdowns about the omicron variant, dose of the mRNA vaccines The administration said it medical experts, what’s go-
beyond his recommendation such as whether it is more from Pfizer or Moderna. is making 50 million CO- ing to be most effective and
that Americans wear masks contagious, makes people VID-19 tests free for older what we can implement,”
indoors in public settings. more seriously ill and can Biden said the CDC is de- people and other vulnerable press secretary Jen Psaki said
thwart the vaccines. Officials veloping new guidance for groups for pickup at senior Thursday.
“Experts say the COVID-19 said Thursday that a second schools in an effort to re- centers and community sites.
cases will continue to rise in case of the variant had been duce or eliminate current Biden is extending his di-
the weeks ahead this win- confirmed in the United quarantine requirements for Beginning next week, Biden rective requiring masks on
ter, so we need to be ready,” States. those not fully vaccinated said, all travelers to the U.S., airplanes and other public
Biden said during a visit to and exposed to the virus. regardless of nationality or transit, which had been set
the National Institutes of About 100 million Americans That could include “test-to- vaccination status, will need to expire in January, through
Health in suburban Mary- are eligible for boosters un- stay” policies, in which those to provide proof of a nega- at least the middle of March,
land after a briefing with sci- der current U.S. policy, with considered close contacts can tive COVID-19 test within the White House said.
entific advisers. more becoming eligible every continue to go to school but one day of boarding flights.
day. Officials believe that per- wear masks and undergo se- That compares with three The administration is in-
He said his new strategy suading the vaccinated to get rial testing, in an effort to days now for those who have forming states that it has
“doesn’t include shutdowns another dose will be easier minimize learning loss and been vaccinated. The White more than 60 teams available
and lockdowns,” and he than vaccinating the roughly disruption. House has shelved tougher to help them or their mu-
hoped for bipartisan backing. 43 million adult Americans options such as requiring nicipalities address surges in
who haven’t gotten a shot. The rule that private insur- post-arrival testing or requir- cases and public health short-
“My plan I’m announcing to- ers cover at-home testing is ing quarantines upon arrival ages heading into the winter.

Murder charge for Ohio deputy in Casey Goodson Jr. shooting

(AP) — The Ohio sher- footage. use of force. Meade in his car followed
iff ’s deputy who fatally Goodson, whom the deputy Meade “commanded Mr.
shot Casey Goodson Jr. in An attorney for the family The fatal shooting of Good- said was “waving the fire- Goodson to once again ‘drop
the back five times was of Goodson, who was Black, son took place in Colum- arm erratically,” and then the gun,’ and when that com-
charged Thursday with also announced a federal civil bus on Dec. 4, 2020, while parked and put on a tactical mand was ignored, and while
murder in an encounter rights lawsuit against the Meade, a 17-year member of vest identifying himself as a the gun was pointing at Mr.
that led to protests and now-retired white deputy the sheriff’s office, was fin- member of the Marshals’ task Meade, he, in fear for his life
about which many ques- who shot him, Jason Meade, ishing an unsuccessful search force, according to the state- as well as those inside the
tions remain, in part be- and the Franklin County for a fugitive as part of his ment from attorney Mark house, fired his weapon at
cause it was not recorded Sheriff’s Office, alleging work for a U.S. Marshals Ser- Collins. Mr. Goodson,” the statement
on body or dash camera wrongful death and excessive vice task force. Goodson was said.
not the subject of the fugitive Meade followed Goodson
search and the Marshals have on foot as Goodson walked Relatives say Goodson was
said Meade wasn’t perform- toward a house, with Good- opening the door to his
ing a mission for them at the son carrying a gun in his grandmother’s house at the
time of the shooting. right hand and a plastic bag time he was shot. Investiga-
in his left, the statement tors said that a gun was re-
Meade’s attorney on Thurs- said. Meade identified him- covered from the scene but
day released a statement pro- self as an officer and ordered have not provided further
viding a detailed look at the Goodson to show his hands, details.
shooting from Meade’s per- according to Meade’s ac-
spective, which includes the count. He thought Goodson The family has said Goodson
deputy beginning a pursuit of was about to comply when had a sandwich, not a gun, in
Goodson after he said he saw Goodson turned and lifted his hand. But even if Good-
him pointing a gun at anoth- his right arm back, pointing son had been carrying a gun,
er driver and then at Meade. the gun at the deputy, the the family has reiterated, he
statement said. had a license to do so.