WASHINGTON – After meeting with the White House COVID-19 response team, President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver an address on Tuesday about the state of the pandemic.
Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary said the president’s speech ahead of Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations will not be about locking the country down.
Psaki said it will be about “outlining and being direct — clear with the American people — about the benefits of being vaccinated.”
Epidemiologists expect unvaccinated Americans to drive hospitalizations and deaths. As the omicron variant spreads, the new cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. are up 96%.
Biden also tweeted his administration is working to increase testing capacity, vaccine availability, and hospital support.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden’s chief medical advisor, said Americans need to use face masks indoors — especially at crowded airports.
“To be clear COVID--19 is not the same threat to fully vaccinated individuals that it was in March 2020,″ Psaki said.
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More about omicron
Since it is more contagious than delta, epidemiologists expect omicron to become the dominant variant by early next year in the U.S. Researchers at the University of Miami Health lab said it already makes up for the majority of the cases in Miami-Dade County.
There is plenty of uncertainty since it is unclear if omicron causes a more severe disease than delta. Scientists do know unvaccinated Americans face a higher risk. Research shows the Moderna and Pfizer booster shot offers protection against omicron.
For more information about testing and vaccination locations in South Florida, visit this page.
Related story: While COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising in South Florida, ICU populations are not