During his visit to the National Institutes of Health in December, President Joe Biden spoke about his administration's plan to fight the coronaviruses disease with the emergence of the Omicron variant.
President Joe Biden said on Thursday that his plan to fight Covid during the winter will not include new lockdowns or an expansion of the administration's current vaccine requirements.
Biden told reporters during an update on Thursday that it doesn't include shutdowns or lockdowns, but widespread vaccinations and boosters.
The president said that the plan doesn't expand or add to the mandates and that it should get bipartisan support.
The administration wants to increase the number of Americans who get booster shots. More than 60 million people on Medicare will be contacted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to get an additional shot.
The White House plan came after at least two cases of the omicron variant were detected in California and Minnesota. Health officials in the U.S. and around the world are concerned that the variant could prove to be more transmissible and resistant to vaccines.
European nations have reintroduced restrictions on public life to fight Covid infections. Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany have instituted a full lockdown, the Netherlands is forcing businesses to close early, and Germany is barring unvaccinated businesses from most businesses.
Businesses with 100 or more employees are being asked to move forward with the administration's requirements to get their staff vaccine or tested weekly by January 4. The policy was put on hold by the federal appellate court due to constitutional concerns. The administration believes it will win the case.
The administration wants to keep schools open by opening hundreds of family vaccine clinics at community health centers and other locations around the country, according to Biden.
Biden said that they are going to take new steps to make sure the school stays that way. The best thing to do is to have your children vaccinations.
The expansion of free at- home Covid testing is included in the plan. The administration will distribute 50 million free tests to people who are uninsured or underserved, and Americans with private insurance will be reimbursed for the tests.
The White doesn't believe additional measures are needed at the moment, but is developing contingency plans to develop new vaccines and boosters if they are needed to fight omicron.
Biden's team is working with officials at Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson to develop contingency plans for other vaccines. The FDA and the CDC will be directed to use the fastest process available without cutting corners for safety, to get such vaccines for reviewed and approved if needed.
International travelers will be required to get tested 24 hours before their departure if they have not received their vaccine. The mask mandate for domestic flights and public transit is being extended.
Biden said that they are in a better position than they were a year ago.
