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U.S. NEWS Thursday 10 February 2022
As even Dem states ease, Biden begins rethinking COVID rules

By ZEKE MILLER we have the responsibility
Associated Press to rely on data on science,
WASHINGTON (AP) — With on the medical experts,”
even Democratic states she said.
moving to roll back mask “That doesn’t move at the
mandates, the White speed of politics, it moves
House said Wednesday it is at the speed of data,” she
beginning to prepare for a added. Asked whether
less-restrictive phase of the Americans should follow
national COVID response less-restrictive state or local
in the face of growing im- rules or the stricter federal
patience to ease up and guidance, she repeated
turn toward post-pandem- the White House’s daily
ic normalcy. President Joe counsel: “We would advise
Biden entered office prom- any American to follow the
ising to lead the nation out CDC guidelines.”
of the emergency phase The CDC continues to
of the pandemic, but it recommend indoor mask
is state and local lead- wearing in places of “sub-
ers who are stepping into stantial or high transmis-
leadership roles while Biden sion” of the virus, which as
faces increasing scrutiny of Wednesday was all of
for his caution amid declin- the U.S. but 14 rural coun-
ing cases and rising public White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients removes a face mask as he prepares to ties.
frustration. The White House speak at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, April 13, 2021. Associated Press State and local leaders,
for the first time acknowl- nevertheless, have an-
edged movement in its ficials have been slow to these are governors that virus last summer, which nounced plans to ease vi-
planning on Wednesday, preview potential changes. would probably have fol- proved premature in the rus restrictions in the com-
saying conversations have That’s led to a patchwork lowed the White House’s face of the delta and ing weeks as omicron cases
been underway privately of local and state policies guidance,” said Dr. Leana then omicron strains. Now, fall, citing the protections
for weeks. that differ widely from one Wen, a former Baltimore though, cases and hospi- offered by vaccines as
White House COVID-19 co- place to the next. health commissioner. “They talizations from COVID-19 well as the increased avail-
ordinator Jeff Zients said “We are working on that wanted CDC input and have dropped markedly ability of at-home testing
officials are consulting with guidance,” said Centers asked for it, but without since they peaked earlier kits and therapeutics for
state and local leaders for Disease Control and a clear timeline, at some this year amid the spread those who do catch the
and public health officials Prevention Director Dr. Ro- point they had to decide of the highly-transmissible virus. Many of the restric-
“on steps we should be chelle Walensky. “As we’ve that they couldn’t wait any omicron variant, and the tions eased last year, only
taking to keep the country been encouraged by the more. The fault is not theirs, vast majority of Americans to be reinstated as omicron
moving forward.” His com- current trends, we are not but the CDC’s and by ex- are protected against the swept the country.
ments came as states have there yet.” tension, President Biden’s, virus by effective vaccines Earlier this week, New Jer-
moved to ease their own The White House offered which, with each passing and boosters. sey, Connecticut and Del-
restrictions. no timetable for the review day, is making itself less and Asked whether Biden ap- aware announced plans
Governors and local school or an indication of what less relevant.” pears to be out of touch to lift statewide mask-re-
officials have been pressing it will recommend. Some Biden’s hesitance is driven with the country, White quirements in schools. On
for clearer federal guide- critics say that’s not good in part by the sting of his House press secretary Jen Wednesday, state officials
lines for easing or ending enough. fleeting “declaration of Psaki defended his caution. said Massachusetts will fol-
restrictions, but federal of- “The tragic thing is that independence” from the “As a federal government low suit starting Feb. 28. q

Feds say no taxpayer money for safer

drug-smoking pipes

By R. ALONSO-ZALDIVAR White House drug policy illicit drugs. The original re-
Associated Press adviser Rahul Gupta said in quest for funding proposals
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fol- a statement. from the Substance Abuse
lowing outrage on the po- White House press secre- and Mental Health Services
litical right, the Biden ad- tary Jen Psaki said sepa- Administration had listed
ministration said Wednes- rately that was never the “safe smoking kits/sup-
day that a grant program intention, complaining that plies” among the items that
to help prevent additional impression was created by could be purchased with
harm to people who use “inaccurate reporting.” taxpayer money.
illicit drugs will not pay for Monday was the deadline They were among a dozen
safer pipes to smoke crack for service organizations categories that included
or meth. and state and local gov- overdose prevention drugs, A pouch containing crystalized methamphetamine and a
homemade pipe are shown March 21, 2006, in Window Rock,
“No federal funding will be ernments to apply for a medication lockboxes, test Ariz.
used directly or through share of $30 million in fed- kits for infectious diseases, Associated Press
subsequent reimbursement eral money for “harm re- and syringe disposal con-
of grantees to put pipes in duction” efforts intended tainers. The grant solicita- smoking kits. dollars to pay for “crack
safe smoking kits,” Health to prevent disease, injury tion did not specifically That triggered online re- pipes.” Some Republican
and Human Services Sec- and other collateral trau- mention pipes, although ports that the Biden admin- senators castigated the
retary Xavier Becerra and ma to people addicted to they can be part of safe istration was using federal administration on Twitter.q