President Biden has said that “God willing” will be a complete stadium for the next Super Bowl – and that federal guidelines for reopening schools could be announced amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday.
During an excerpt aired Sunday during CBS’s pre-match for Super Bowl LV, Biden said it was his “hope and expectation” that fans would be full next year.
“If God wills, we will be able to celebrate a year from now as usual,” he said.
The NFL said only 25,000 people would watch Sunday’s championship in person at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida – along with 30,000 fans.
Biden said he told his “team” of the coronavirus about NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s Thursday offer to use all 32 pro football stadiums as mass vaccination sites, but he did not say which – if any – service would not be placed.
Asked by CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell about the effects of the school closure on the country’s children, Biden said: “I think it’s time for schools to open safely.”
The president cited concerns about the inclusion of ‘ventilation systems’ in classrooms, but said dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will “announce safety guidelines” as early as Wednesday.
On the big game between reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Biden said that six-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady was “obviously” a great quarterback “of the Bucs.
But he also said Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes “has a lot of potential.”
Asked if that meant he thought Kansas City would win, Biden replied, “I did not say that.”
“I think they are both good backs.”
The 4-1 / 2 minute excerpt from the interview – the first that Biden gave to an anchor in the TV network – was among several that CBS has been broadcasting since Friday night.
Another one will be broadcast on CBS Evening News on Monday, O’Donnell said.