The Path Out of the Pandemic: President Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan
- Yesterday, President Biden delivered remarks outlining his COVID action plan to build on our progress, stop the spread of Delta, and increase vaccinations. The plan reflects the Administration’s whole-of-government approach and unwavering commitment to defeat the virus at home and abroad.
- Since January 20, we have gone from about two million fully vaccinated Americans to more than 175 million. And since early July, we have seen a consistent trend of increasing vaccinations with an average of 825,000 shots a day.
- We are bringing the same wartime spirit and science-based approach that we have always brought to match the scale and type of challenges we face as the virus evolves.
- President Biden’s COVID-19 action plan focuses on:
- Vaccinating the Unvaccinated: President Biden announced vaccination requirements that cover an estimated 100 million Americans – two thirds of all workers – including all employees in the federal government and those at most health care settings.
- Further Protecting the Vaccinated: President Biden announced there will be enough booster shots available to everyone for free as soon as they are authorized – with a national distribution system ready, providing easy access for all eligible Americans, and ensuring Americans know where to get a booster.
- Keeping Schools Safely Open: The President called on all governors to require vaccinations for all teachers and staff, will require vaccination for educators at federal Head Start Programs, and is helping increase regular testing at schools. And, any teacher or school official whose pay is withheld by a governor will have that pay restored by the federal government – 100%.
- Increasing Testing & Requiring Masking: The president’s plan will ensure that every American – no matter their income – can access free, convenient tests. The plan expands easy-to-use testing production through the Defense Production Act, makes tests more affordable, expands free pharmacy testing, and sends free rapid tests to food banks and community health centers. The plan also continues to require masking for interstate travel and on federal property.
- Protecting Our Economic Recovery: The President announced several programs that will help ensure the U.S. economy continues to grow, including an expansion of the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program so small businesses can borrow up to $2 million to keep their businesses strong.
- Improving Care for Those with COVID-19: The Administration is strengthening its surge response, with nearly 1,000 personnel already deployed across 18 states and the Department of Defense doubling the number of their teams deployed to support hospitals. The Administration is also increasing the weekly pace of monoclonal antibody shipments.
- The president committed to the American people that he’d do everything in his power to defeat the virus. That’s what he’s done – and this plan builds on that and pushes us further.