The day after taking office, US President Joe Biden promised, Thursday, January 21, a mobilization as "in time of war" in the face of Covid-19, announcing restrictions for travelers and denouncing the "terrible failure" of the vaccine distribution.
"Our strategy is based on science, not politics, on truth, not on denial", launched Joe Biden, eager to mark the contrast with Donald Trump at the time when the milestone of 400,000 deaths has just been crossed .
By signing a series of ten executive orders, he announced that anyone arriving by plane into the United States from another country should "get tested before leaving" and "observe quarantine on arrival".
We don't have a second to waste when it comes to getting this virus under control.
That's why today, I'll be signing executive actions to expand testing, administer vaccines, and safely reopen schools and businesses.
- President Biden (@POTUS) January 21, 2021
Financial support to WHO
Asked whether his stated goal of 100 million vaccinations in 100 days was not lacking in ambition, he reacted strongly: "When I announced it, you all said it would not be possible", he said.
“Come on, you're not serious!” He added.
Committing to always give the floor to scientists, in particular to immunologist Anthony Fauci, he promised the Americans transparency on "the good and the bad news", deeming essential to "restore confidence" after the procrastination of his predecessor.
The new US administration, taking the opposite view of Donald Trump, thanked the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday for its leadership role in the planetary fight against the pandemic, and assured it of its support financial.
The United States, which announced its return to the WHO on Wednesday, "intends to meet its financial obligations to the organization," said Dr Fauci.
Checks to families, aid to small businesses ...
The 46th American president also issued an executive order making it compulsory in federal buildings to wear the mask that his predecessor had only reluctantly donned.
In a serious inauguration speech, Joe Biden warned that the Covid-19 was about to experience its "hardest and deadliest phase" and called on Americans to "leave politics aside" to face together this "dark winter".
The 78-year-old veteran of American politics is now hoping to convince elected Republican Congressmen to adopt a $ 1.9 trillion stimulus package intended to cushion the devastating effects of the pandemic on the economy.
Checks to families, funds to reopen schools, money to speed up tests and vaccines, aid for small businesses, or even more food assistance: the measures must prevent the country from sinking further into the crisis.
With AFP
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