President Biden says the exodus of millions of women from the workforce and the closure of schools – along with the mental health issues for children that may arise – during the Covid-19 pandemic constitutes a ‘national emergency’.
The anchor and managing editor of “CBS Evening News”, Norah O’Donnell, spoke with Mr. Biden talks in the first network news interview he has given since his inauguration.
“It’s a national emergency. It’s really a national emergency,” he said. Biden said. Nearly 3 million women have leaving the workforce the past year.
The president said he and his staff realized that the Trump administration’s handling the pandemic was “even more horrific than we thought” once they entered the White House.
CBS News
“We thought they indicated that there was a lot more vaccine available,” he said. Biden said. “And that doesn’t seem to be the case. That’s why we have every way we can shoot up.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden’s chief medical adviser and the country’s leading doctor on infectious diseases, said 75% of Americans need to be vaccinated to get herd immunity. At the current rate of 1.3 million vaccines per day, CBS News has calculated that 75% of Americans will only be vaccinated by the end of 2021.
“We can not wait that long,” he said. Biden said.
In an example of the run-up, Mr. Biden said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told him the government could use all 32 stadiums as vaccination sites.
“Are you going to use it, NFL stadiums to vaccinate?” Ask O’Donnell.
“We absolutely will,” Mr Biden said. “And I mean, let’s put it this way: I’m telling my team they’re available and I believe we’ll use them. Look, it was one thing if we had enough vaccine, which we did not have. we are pushing as hard as we can to get more vaccines produced. “
‘You are President of the United States, Commander – in – Chief. Can you do something if you go to Moderna, go to Pfizer and say we need more production? ‘ Ask O’Donnell.
“Yes. I think so, because we have already done so,” Mr Biden said. “But the idea that this can be done and that we can get herd immunity well before the end of next year – this summer – is very difficult.”
Mr. Biden agrees with O’Donnell that there is an emergency for mental health with children outside of school.
“Do you think it’s time for schools to reopen?” Ask O’Donnell.
“I think it’s time for schools to reopen safely. Safe,” he said. Biden said. “You need to have fewer people in the classroom. You need to have ventilation systems that have been redesigned. Our CDC commissioner will come forward with scientific judgment, I think as early as Wednesday to explain what the minimum requirements are.”
On the first day of mr. Biden signed an executive order to prioritize the reopening of schools in the country first 100 days in office. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to announce the reopening of schools this week.
‘Among the things we need to do to make sure schools are safe is to make sure the spread of the disease in the community is down, and that means it’s our whole responsibility to work to get our children back safely. to get to school and our teachers safely back to school, ‘CDC director Rochelle Walensky said on Friday.
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