Biden tells schools they better stay open.
COVID is on the rise again in the United States in a big way, with the CDC estimating that the omicron variant is now responsible for 73 percent of new cases. Omicron might cause less severe illness than previous variants, or it might not; what’s clear is that it spreads more quickly than the others, and that individuals who’ve only gotten the initial doses of a vaccine, and not a booster, are highly susceptible to infection from it. Reports across the country indicate that PCR testing centers are overloaded and at-home testing kits are hard to come by. Meanwhile, something like 20 percent of eligible individuals in the United States—meaning, of the set of Americans who are 5 years old or older—haven’t received even one vaccine dose. The situation, then, is one in which a faster-spreading COVID is moving through a population that is having a harder than usual time testing itself to determine whether it needs to quarantine. And this is happening during the holidays, when people tend to gather indoors in large groups. This is going to mean, scientifically speaking, a mondo load of cases, including potentially enough serious ones to fill hospital ICUs. In recent weeks, a number of public-health experts and journalists have expressed concern about the government’s level of preparedness for the surge. (On Dec. 8, White House press secretary Jen Psaki responded to a question in this vein, about the availability of testing, by riffing facetiously about how crazy it would be to imagine that a free test could be sent to everyone in the country.) Cultural events have been canceled; some day cares are closing. Parents have started to think darkly about the renewed possibility of life-upending K–12 school closures. On Tuesday at the White House, President Joe Biden announced a plan for responding to omicron. It was headlined by a reversal of course: The administration, he now says, is committed to sending free tests to everyone in the country who wants one. (According to the White House, the plan is to purchase 500 million tests and create a website where Americans can order them for free. As the New York Times noted judiciously, “it was not immediately clear where the tests would come from.” The U.K., which already had such a home-delivery system in place, recently ran out of tests.) Biden also says that the federal government, via the military and FEMA, will deploy additional resources and manpower for testing and vaccination and to hospitals. The most practically and politically salient part of the president’s speech, however, may have concerned something he has no formal control over: public schools. “We don’t have to shut down schools because of COVID-19,” Biden said, arguing that testing and vaccine technology can isolate and mitigate outbreaks in a way that was not possible when districts shut down in March 2020. “We can keep our K–12 schools open. That’s exactly what we should be doing.” Biden’s remarks included several passages intended to persuade vaccine-hesitant Americans to get shots, including both warnings that they are at elevated risk of dying and an aside about former President Donald Trump having recently said that he has received a vaccine booster. Given the general political leanings of the unvaccinated population, odds are not great that this will have any effect, Trump’s personal decision notwithstanding. Teachers unions and state governments—or at least state governments in states that would be considering further closures in the first place—may be more easily influenced by the soft power of the presidential pulpit. Step 1 for the president was having a press conference and a plan ; mission accomplished there. Step 2 is getting at-home tests out, setting up new testing sites, and bolstering America’s hospitals before omicron lands fully. How all of that works out will be what actually determines whether the country experiences the social chaos (and political fallout) that Biden seems, a bit belatedly, motivated to avert.Popular in News & Politics
- 最近发表
-
- NASA rover snaps photo of its most daunting challenge yet
- A professional photographer explains what you're doing wrong on Instagram
- 家长注意:少带孩子到人群集中场所
- China banned a ton of words that opposed abolition of term limits
- Who is the Dark Wizard in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2?
- North Korea, US agree to resume nuke talks
- 创新 流转土地搞茶叶合作社
- Mane stars as Senegal begin title defence with victory
- Prime exclusive deal: $50 off Govee floor lamp
- I bet you can't guess where the Huawei MateBook X Pro hides its camera
- 随机阅读
-
- NASA says Earth just had the hottest day ever recorded
- Hilarious meme reveals the 'real' names of your favorite celebrities
- 创新 流转土地搞茶叶合作社
- China banned a ton of words that opposed abolition of term limits
- Pakistan Cricket at crossroads after shock defeat at Pindi
- Mane stars as Senegal begin title defence with victory
- Australia coach expects more from team
- 九九重阳节浓浓爱老情
- Best Labor Day headphones deals: Apple, Bose, Beats, and more on sale
- Murray turns to Nadal and Cilic for inspiration
- US envoy calls on North Korea to return to talks
- Liverpool dismayed by 'disgraceful' claims
- The Techies Who Lunch
- Ukraine can complete World Cup dream in Wales
- 'BBQ Becky' doppelgänger interrupts black cosplayers at Dragon Con
- Mickelson joins Saudi
- 古物:回望时间的印记
- “三交”之地源自三座“碉堡”?
- A giant Jeremy Clarkson head keeps popping up to promote 'The Grand Tour'
- North Korea, US agree to resume nuke talks
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-