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US NEWS Diamars 17 November 2020
Biden vows to strengthen economy despite exploding pandemic

(AP) — Acknowledg- ic-induced shutdowns this
ing that the nation is in a spring more quickly than
“dark” place, President- most economists expected.
elect Joe Biden on Mon- The unemployment rate
day said his administra- dropped a full percentage
tion would strengthen point last month to 6.9% and
the country’s vulnerable those who still have jobs —
economy despite the ex- many of them working from
ploding pandemic as he home — have stepped up
pushed forward with the their spending on cars, elec-
business of preparing to tronics and home renova-
assume the presidency. tions.

Biden, who will take office But much of the rebound was
on Jan. 20, offered an opti- fueled by $2 trillion in stimu-
mistic assessment of the next lus money that has largely
four years during a meeting run its course. And there are
with several business and la- signs that the ongoing in-
bor leaders ahead of an after- creases in confirmed virus
noon economic address from cases are making Americans
his makeshift headquarters in national lockdown to ar- hearing all these governors the pandemic and distribute more cautious about travel-
Delaware. rest the surge of coronavirus and mayors are scrambling prospective vaccines. ing and shopping.
cases. Since defeating Trump, to try to find what is the right
“To state the obvious, we Biden has devoted most of his answer for us, and it would “We now have the possi- Consumers cut back on
seem to be turning a pretty public remarks to encourag- surely help all of them, and bility ... of a vaccine start- spending in early Novem-
dark corner now,” Biden told ing Americans to wear masks that’s what I’m hearing from ing perhaps in December ber, according to JPMorgan
the group, their faces project- and embrace social distancing them, that we have a stan- or January,” Biden’s chief of Chase, which tracks spend-
ed on video screens, as the measures. dardized set of recommenda- staff, Ron Klain, said Sunday. ing on 30 million of its debit
meeting began. tions and protocols,” he said. “There are people at HHS and credit cards. Spending
“I don’t want to be falsely op- But members of his coro- making plans to implement declines have been larger
timistic,” he continued. But navirus advisory board have Recent reports suggest that that vaccine. Our experts in some states with severe
“I think we can do this.” been more specific. One at least two vaccines are close need to talk to those people outbreaks, such as Iowa and
member, Dr. Michael Os- to winning approval, though as soon as possible so nothing North Dakota.
Biden, a Democrat, has vowed terholm, recently suggested mass distribution is likely drops in this change of power
to spend trillions of dollars to a four- to six-week national several months away. we’re going to have on Jan. Most economists support
reinvigorate U.S. manufac- lockdown with financial aid 20.” another round of stimulus
turing, expand health care for Americans whose liveli- Trump seemed to acknowl- funding, including loans to
coverage and combat climate hoods would be affected. He edge Biden’s victory for the Before his Monday address, small businesses, extended
change, among other pri- later walked back the remarks first time on Sunday before Biden and Vice President- unemployment benefits and
orities. But his chief priority and was rebutted by two oth- walking back the remark elect Kamala Harris held vir- support for states and cities.
remains controlling the coro- er members of the panel who and repeating false claims tual meetings with AFL-CIO Congressional Democrats
navirus pandemic, which is said a widespread lockdown of widespread voter fraud. President Richard Trumka, have previously backed an-
surging to record levels and shouldn’t be under consider- Despite mounting public General Motors CEO Mary other $2 trillion in aid.
forcing state and local lead- ation. pressure, the Trump admin- Barra and Microsoft Presi-
ers to implement new rounds Speaking Monday on “CBS istration has refused to initi- dent and CEO Satya Nadella, Sen. Mitch McConnell, the
of restrictions on local busi- This Morning,” Osterholm ate the traditional transition among others. Republican majority leader,
nesses. was not asked about a poten- briefings for the incoming has pointed to the falling un-
tial lockdown, but he said the president’s team on national Biden and Harris were speak- employment rate as evidence
The president-elect has so nation needs “a standard set security and policy issues. ing at a particularly tricky that much less stimulus is
far tried to sidestep difficult of principles.” Trump is also blocking time for economic policy. needed.
questions about whether he “Right now, we don’t have Biden’s team from being The U.S. economy has re-
might support a short-term a standardized set so you’re briefed on efforts to control covered from the pandem-

Texas surpasses 20,000 virus deaths, second highest in US

(AP) — Texas surpassed America’s first state to re- virus restrictions, allowing
20,000 confirmed corona- cord more than 1 million restaurants and gyms to let
virus deaths Monday, as confirmed COVID-19 cases. more people inside. He also
COVID-19 continues to Texas also recently surpassed let county leaders decide if
surge in the United States. California, the most popu- they wanted to reopen bars at
lous state, in recording the 50% capacity.
That is the second highest highest number of positive Since then, the virus has
death count overall in the coronavirus tests. The true spread.
U.S., trailing only New York, number of infections is likely
according to researchers higher because many peo- Over the past two weeks, the
from Johns Hopkins Uni- ple haven’t been tested, and rolling average number of
versity. It’s the 22nd highest studies suggest people can be daily new cases has increased
per capita at 69.7 deaths per infected and not feel sick. by 3,430.4, an increase of
100,000 people. 53.6%.
During the summer, peo-
So far, Texas leaders have emphasizing that new thera- lifted a local shutdown or- ple with COVID-19 over- Texas now ranks 31st in the
given no indication of forth- peutics and vaccines are ex- der in El Paso, where mobile whelmed hospitals in Hous- country for new cases per
coming restrictions to keep pected to become available morgues are being trucked in ton and in the Rio Grande capita, with 428.3 new cases
people from gathering and soon. to help overwhelmed hospi- Valley, along the border with per 100,000 people over the
spreading the virus. Instead, A state appeals court last tals and funeral homes. Mexico. But in the fall case past two weeks. One in every
Republican Gov. Greg Ab- week sided with Texas Attor- numbers dipped, and Abbott 417 people in Texas tested
bott in recent days has been ney General Ken Paxton and Just last week, it became began relaxing some corona- positive in the past week.