US President Joe Biden talks about his government’s plans to respond to the economic crisis during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response in the State Dining Room in the White House in Washington, January 22, 2021.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
President Joe Biden has painted a bleak picture of the country’s coronavirus outbreak in his first few days in office, warning that it will take months to reverse the pandemic’s trajectory and that deaths are expected next few weeks will increase dramatically.
“A lot of America is hurting. The virus is on the rise. We are expected to be 400,000 dead to reach more than 600,000,” Biden said Friday before signing two executive orders to reduce hunger and workers’ rights. amid the pandemic.
The U.S. exceeded 400,000 Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday, a quarter of the deaths during the previous 36 days, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. On Biden’s first full day Thursday as president, he told reporters after a meeting with his Covid-19 advisers, including dr. Anthony Fauci, that the country would probably have 500,000 Covid-19 deaths in February.
Biden warned on Friday that as the outbreak continues, “we can do nothing to change the trajectory of the pandemic in the next few months.” The president has repeatedly warned that the situation is likely to worsen before improving.
The United States has reported a decline in Covid-19 cases over the past few days, a glimmer of hope for a surge since the fall and through the winter holidays. According to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins data, the US reports an average of approximately 187,593 new Covid-19 cases daily, a decrease of 22% compared to a week ago.
However, the country is still “in a very serious situation”, Fauci said during his first press briefing in the White House under the new government on Thursday. He notes the country’s high death toll and a strained hospital capacity.
Fauci said the daily number of cases, based on a weekly average, appears to be flat and twisted. It is possible that the decline may still be due to reduced reporting after the holidays, he added.
“When we see it, we think it really is,” Fauci said.
This is an evolving story. Come back later for updates.