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https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-03-11-21
Biden delivers first primetime address about Covid-19
By Ben Westcott, Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Melissa Mahtani, Veronica Rocha and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN
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- Biden Speech
- One Year
- US Stimulus
- Vaccines
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Biden condemns hate crimes against Asian-Americans amid pandemic
From CNN's Josiah Ryan
President Biden this evening condemned those who have used the pandemic as an excuse for hate to divide the country at a time when healing is needed.
"Too often, we've turned against one another, a mask the easiest thing to do to save lives," he said, speaking in his first primetime address. "Sometimes it divides us, states pitted against one another. Instead of working with each other."
"Vicious hate crimes against Asian Americans have been attacked, harassed, blamed and scapegoated," he said. "They're on the front lines of this pandemic trying to save lives and still, still they are forced to live in fear for their lives just walking down streets in America."
"It's wrong, it's un-American and it must stop," he added.
Watch the moment:
Biden says the last year was "filled with the loss of life and the loss of living for all of us"
President Biden addressed the nation tonight on the one-year anniversary of the Covid-19 shutdown and discussed how through "loss we saw how much there was to gain in appreciation, respect and gratitude, finding light in the darkness is a very American thing to do."
"A year ago we were hit with a virus that was met with silence and spread unchecked, denials for days, weeks, then months. That led to more deaths, more infections, more stress, and more loneliness," Biden said in a nationally televised address. "Photos and videos from 2019 feel like they were taken in another era. The last vacation. The last birthday with friends. The last holiday with extended family. While it was different for everyone, we all lost something. A collective suffering. A collective sacrifice."
Biden added: "A year filled with the loss of life and the loss of living for all of us. But in the loss we saw how much there was to gain in appreciation, respect and gratitude, finding light in the darkness is a very American thing to do."
Hear President Biden:
Biden delivers his first primetime address
From CNN's Maegan Vazquez
President Biden is delivering his first primetime address from the White House right now to commemorate the anniversary of the Covid-19 shutdown.
Biden says he plans to talk about the next steps to address the pandemic.
Using his executive authority, Biden will also say that all states, tribes and territories must make all adults eligible for the vaccine by the start of May, a step he’ll say could allow for small Independence Day gatherings on July 4.
He’ll use the July 4 holiday as a target date by which all Americans can gather in small groups with family and friends, though will warn that doing so will require continued vigilance about wearing masks, socially distancing and getting a vaccine when eligible.
Biden will address rise in violence targeting Asian-Americans
From CNN's Betsy Klein
During his primetime address this evening, President Biden will address the recent rise in violence targeted at Asian-Americans, a senior White House official confirmed to CNN.
The spike in racist attacks coincides with the Covid-19 pandemic, with top officials in the Trump administration referring to coronavirus as the “China Virus” and one Trump official anonymously referring to it as “Kung Flu.”
CNN has reported there have been nearly 3,000 incidents reported across the country, according to an advocacy group.
This was first reported by CBS News’ Weijia Jiang.
Biden has been line editing his primetime speech for a week, White House says
From CNN's Betsy Klein
President Biden has been line editing the drafts of his first primetime address for the past week, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.
As CNN has reported, in his speech tonight, Biden is expected to reflect on the sacrifices made during the pandemic, including 500,000 lives lost, his team’s efforts to accelerate vaccine production and distribution, and the next steps.
“Even while he was focused on getting the American Rescue Plan across the finish line, he has been reviewing drafts of the speech last week, he was, of course through the course of this week, and making line edits. He has been providing line edits in order to ensure he is striking the right tone and providing the right level of clarity as he prepares to address the country this evening,” Psaki said Thursday afternoon
“He plans to provide a clear outline of his approach, level with the American people about what is require of them, but also provide a sense of hope about what is possible,” she added.
Biden will direct states to open vaccine eligibility to all adults by May 1
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
President Biden will direct US states to open vaccine eligibility to all adults by May 1 in his primetime address on Thursday, a step he’ll say could allow for small Independence Day gatherings on July 4.
The announcements, previewed by senior administration officials, amount to the most aggressive timeline toward reopening yet, one that comes as cases drop but as thousands of Americans continue to die from the virus per week.
Using his executive authority, Biden will say that all states, tribes and territories must make all adults eligible for the vaccine by the start of May.
Many states are already speeding toward wide eligibility for vaccinations, with Alaska – for example – already there.
He’ll use the July 4 holiday as a target date by which all Americans can gather in small groups with family and friends, though will warn that doing so will require continued vigilance about wearing masks, socially distancing and getting a vaccine when eligible.
“He’s going to be very clear that this is not an automatic thing,” an official said.
He will lay out new steps the administration believes makes the May 1 timeline realistic, including expanding the types of professionals who are able to administer vaccine shots. Dentists, veterinarians and paramedics will all be included in the new approved list.
He will detail a national website launching at the start of May that provides information about locating a vaccine.
And he’ll unveil a doubling of the number of federal mass vaccination centers and will announce an additional 4,000 active duty troops will participate in the vaccination effort.
Officials said the target by which enough vaccine will be available for anyone who wants it — the end of May — hasn’t changed. And they cautioned that it would still take longer than that for every person who wants a shot to receive one.
In his speech, Biden will also address school reopening efforts, announcing a summit convened by the Department of Education and expanded testing capacity for K-8 facilities.
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