Biden calls for a 'reset' and to drop 'partisan divide' over COVID


President Joe Biden lauded improvements in the nation’s battle against the pandemic Tuesday at the top of his State of the Union speech.  

‘Last year COVID-19 kept us apart. This year we are finally together again,’ Biden said after entering the House chamber maskless – for a speech that was a reunion for cheering and maskless lawmakers.

It was Biden’s first applause line of the night – where he cited ‘progress’ against the virus, and called for Americans to resume some of their routines.

He also spoke to the angry confrontations that have broken out over schools, masks, and vaccines – as well as furious clashes in Congress, on a night when he touted a ‘unity agenda.’ 

 ‘Let’s use this moment to reset. Let’s stop looking at COVID-19 as a partisan dividing line and see it for what it is: A God-awful disease,’ Biden said.

‘Let’s stop seeing each other as enemies, and start seeing each other for who we really are: Fellow Americans,’ he added.

Then he spoke about ending some of the measures health and political officials ordered to contain the virus – drawing political backlash in some communities.

‘We can end the shutdown of schools and businesses. We have the tools we need. It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again,’ said Biden.

‘People working from home can feel safe to begin to return to the office. We’re doing that here in the federal government. The vast majority of federal workers will once again work in person. Our schools are open. Let’s keep it that way. Our kids need to be in school,’ said Biden.

'Last year COVID-19 kept us apart. This year we are finally together again,' President Joe Biden said at the top of his State of the Union speech

‘Last year COVID-19 kept us apart. This year we are finally together again,’ President Joe Biden said at the top of his State of the Union speech

‘And with 75% of adult Americans fully vaccinated and hospitalizations down by 77%, most Americans can remove their masks, return to work, stay in the classroom, and move forward safely,’ he said.  

Biden acknowledged Americans were ‘frustrated’ with the pandemic – amid a series of polls showing Americans say they think the country is on the wrong track. The pandemic has also led to fierce divisions within the Congress – where lawmakers clashed over mask mandates, lockdowns, school policies, and figures including Biden’s coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci. 

‘For more than two years, COVID-19 has impacted every decision in our lives and the life of the nation. And I know you’re tired, frustrated, and exhausted. But I also know this. Because of the progress we’ve made, because of your resilience and the tools we have, tonight I can say we are moving forward safely, back to more normal routines,’ Biden said. 

 

Almost all lawmakers who attended the speech eschewed masks Tuesday

Almost all lawmakers who attended the speech eschewed masks Tuesday

He pointed to recent improvements in coronavirus cases, after a devastating two years.

‘We’ve reached a new moment in the fight against COVID-19, with severe cases down to a level not seen since last July,’ he noted, pointing to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest mask guidance. 

‘Under these new guidelines, most Americans in most of the country can now be mask free. And based on the projections, more of the country will reach that point across the next couple of weeks. Thanks to the progress we have made this past year, COVID-19 need no longer control our lives. I know some are talking about “living with COVID-19”. Tonight – I say that we will never just accept living with COVID-19. We will continue to combat the virus as we do other diseases. And because this is a virus that mutates and spreads, we will stay on guard,’ he said. 

But his remarks acknowledged the virus was not yet vanquished, even as he touted a drop in hospitalizations and infections.

‘We will continue to combat the virus as we do other diseases. And because this is a virus that mutates and spreads, we will stay on guard,’ he said. 

Biden touted vaccines and boosters, anti-viral drugs, and testing – after millions of Americans were caught without tests when omicron hit this past fall.

He warned: ‘We must prepare for new variants. Over the past year, we’ve gotten much better at detecting new variants. If necessary, we’ll be able to deploy new vaccines within 100 days instead of many more months or years.’

‘And, if Congress provides the funds we need, we’ll have new stockpiles of tests, masks, and pills ready if needed. I cannot promise a new variant won’t come. But I can promise you we’ll do everything within our power to be ready if it does,’ Biden said. 

Maskless lawmakers glad-handed inside the House chamber for the first time in months as they gathered to hear Biden deliver his speech. 

Biden and his team of speechwriters faced a delicate task Tuesday. The nation has been climbing out of the omicron surge, but the toll of the pandemic continues to mount.

The U.S. has already experienced more than 900,000 deaths due to COVID-19. Although the omicron surge that ripped through the country late last year appears to be fating, total cases remain about 70,000 in a rolling seven-day average, and daily deaths are still above 1,500.

The Centers for Disease Control relaxed its mask guidance on Friday for areas that aren’t experiencing high levels of infection or burden on hospitals, and Washington DC rolled back some of its restrictions on Monday.

His speech came in a House chamber that contained many unmasked lawmakers for the first time in months. 

It had the feeling of a more traditional state of the union, with members of the Supreme Court, the president’s cabinet, and lawmakers all going mask-less following a weekend letter from Capitol Physician Brian Monahan, who wrote that lawmakers could decide whether to mask.

There has not been a mask mandate in the Senate. 

 

Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris were seated behind the president

Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris were seated behind the president

Speaker Nancy Pelosi first ordered a mask mandate in 2020

Speaker Nancy Pelosi first ordered a mask mandate in 2020

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi first imposed mask mandate for House floor in July 2020.

There have been angry episodes involving a series of lawmakers who were fined by the House Sergeant at Arms for refusing to comply.  

Biden spoke Tuesday after a steep drop in coronavirus infections

Biden spoke Tuesday after a steep drop in coronavirus infections

U.S. coronavirus deaths finally started to decline in recent weeks

U.S. coronavirus deaths finally started to decline in recent weeks

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