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A2 UP FRONT
Friday 22 January 2021
cessors' actions on vaccine called Biden's goal "ambi- To ramp up supplies, Biden
distribution. And they face tious and achievable." is giving government agen-
a litany of complaints from The Democratic president cies a green light to use a
states that say they are not has directed the Federal Cold War-era law called
getting enough vaccine Emergency Management the Defense Production
even as they are being Agency to begin setting up Act to direct manufactur-
asked to vaccinate more vaccination centers, aim- ing.
categories of people. ing to have 100 up and run- "We do not have nearly
Biden acknowledged the ning in a month. He's order- enough testing capacity
urgency of the mission in his ing the Centers for Disease in this country," Zients said.
inaugural address. "We are Control and Prevention to "We need the money in or-
entering what may well be begin a program to make der to really ramp up test-
the toughest and deadliest vaccines available through ing, which is so important to
period of the virus," he said local pharmacies starting reopen schools and busi-
before asking Americans next month. And he's mo- nesses."
to join him in a moment of bilizing the Public Health This means that efforts to
silence in memory of the Service to deploy to assist reopen the economy will
more than 400,000 people localities in vaccinations. hinge on how quickly law-
in the U.S. who have died There's also support for makers act on the $1.9 tril-
from COVID-19. states. Biden is ordering lion package proposed by
Biden's top medical adviser FEMA to reimburse states Biden, which includes sep-
on COVID-19, Dr. Anthony for the full cost of using their arate planks such as $1,400
Fauci, also announced National Guards to set up in direct payments to peo-
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy renewed U.S. support for vaccination centers. That ple, a $15 minimum wage
and Infectious Diseases, arrives for an event with President Joe
Biden on the coronavirus in the State Dinning Room of the White the World Health Organi- includes the use of supplies and aid to state and local
House, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Washington. zation after the Trump ad- and protective gear as well governments that some Re-
Associated Press ministration had pulled out as personnel. publican lawmakers see as
of the global body. Fauci But some independent ex- unnecessary for addressing
Continued from front fort." said early Thursday that the perts say the administration the medical emergency.
"We need to ask average Biden officials say they're U.S. will join the U.N. health should be setting a higher The Biden plan estimates
Americans to do their part," hampered by lack of co- agency's efforts to bring bar for itself than 100 million that a national vaccination
said Jeff Zients, the White operation from the Trump vaccines, therapeutics shots. During flu season, the strategy with expanded
House official directing the administration during the and diagnostics to people U.S. is able to vaccinate testing requires $160 billion,
national response. "Defeat- transition. They say they in need, whether in rich or about 3 million people a and he wants another $170
ing the virus requires a co- don't have a complete un- poor countries and will re- day, said Dr. Christopher billion to aid the reopening
ordinated nationwide ef- derstanding of their prede- sume full funding and staff- Murray of the Institute for of schools and universities.
ing support for WHO. Health Metrics and Evalu- The proposal also calls for
The U.S. mask order for trav- ation in Seattle. "Given the major investment in scien-
el being implemented by number of people dying tific research to track new
Biden will apply to airports from COVID, we could and strains of the virus, amid
and planes, ships, intercity should do more — like what concern that some muta-
buses, trains and public we're able to do on sea- tions may spread more eas-
transportation. Travelers sonal flu," he said. ily and also prove harder to
from abroad must furnish Zients said Biden will not treat.
a negative COVID-19 test follow through on a Trump As part of his COVID-19 strat-
before departing for the administration plan to pe- egy, Biden will order the es-
U.S. and quarantine upon nalize states lagging in vac- tablishment of a COVID-19
arrival. Biden has already cination by shifting some Health Equity Task Force to
mandated masks on fed- of their allocation to more ensure that minority and
eral property. efficient states. "We are underserved communities
Although airlines, Amtrak not looking to pit one state are not left out of the gov-
and other transport pro- against another," he said. ernment's response. Blacks,
viders now require masks, Biden has set a goal of hav- Latinos and Native Ameri-
Biden's order makes it a ing most K-8 schools reopen cans have borne a heavy
federal mandate, leaving in his first 100 days, and he's burden of death and dis-
little wiggle room for pas- ordering the departments ease from the virus. Surveys
sengers tempted to argue of Education and Health have shown vaccine hesi-
about their rights. It marks and Human Services to tancy is high among Afri-
a sharp break with the cul- provide clear guidance for can Americans, a problem
ture of President Donald reopening schools safely. the administration plans to
Trump's administration, un- States would also be able address through an educa-
der which masks were op- to tap FEMA's Disaster Re- tion campaign.
tional, and Trump made lief Fund to help them get But Dr. Marcella Nunez-
Gilberto Francois (Betico) Croes a point of going maskless schools back open. Smith, the top White House
and hosting big gatherings Getting schools and child health adviser on minor-
January 25th, 1938 –November 26th, 1986 of like-minded supporters. care going will help to ity communities, said she's
Science has shown that ease the drag on the U.S. not convinced that race
To our reader and clients; masks, properly worn, cut economy, making it easier should be a factor in vacci-
for parents to return to their nation. Disparities seem to
down on coronavirus trans-
mission. jobs and restaurants to find have more to do with risky
To our reader and clients; Biden also is seeking to ex- lunch-time customers. jobs and other life circum-
In connection with the holiday, Betico Croes Day, Aru- pand testing and vaccine But administration officials stances.
ba Today will not be published on availability, with the goal stressed that reopening "It's not inherent to race,"
Monday, January 25th, 2021. We will resume our publi- of 100 million shots in his first schools safely depends on she said. "It's from the
cation on Tuesday, January 26th, 2021. 100 days in office. Zients increased testing. exposures."q