WILMINGTON (Delaware, US), Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President-elect Joe Biden vowed a relentless effort to fight COVID-19 the moment he takes office, as he warned that Donald Trump’s vaccination drive was falling dangerously short.
Speaking after a briefing by experts, Biden promised that as president he will undertake the “greatest operational challenge we’ve ever faced as a nation” to inoculate against the illness that has claimed more than 1.7 million lives globally.
“The Trump administration’s plan to distribute vaccines is falling far behind,” Biden said, promising: “I’m going to move heaven and earth to get us going in the right direction.”
The Trump administration had predicted that 20 million Americans would be vaccinated by the end of December.
With less than three days left, some 2.1 million have received the first shot of the vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Biden, who takes office on Jan 20, confirmed that he would invoke the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to force private industry to step up vaccine production for the government.
He also implored Americans to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and said he would impose a mandate on face covers in areas where the federal government has jurisdiction, such as airplanes.
“We’re planning a whole-of-government effort and we’re going to work to set up vaccination sites and send mobile units to hard-to-reach communities,” Biden said,
“We’re going to make sure vaccines are distributed equitably so every person can get one, no matter the color of their skin and where they live.”
He voiced confidence of a return to normality in 2021 – but not immediately.
“We might not see improvement until we’re well into March as it will take time for our COVID-19 response plan to begin to produce visible progress,” Biden said.
“The next few weeks and months are going to be very tough – a very tough period for our nation, maybe the toughest during this entire pandemic.”
Meanwhile, a representative-elect from Louisiana died of COVID-19 on Tuesday (Dec 29), the first member of Congress to succumb to the disease.
Republican Luke Letlow, 41, had been elected to Louisiana’s 5th district and was due to be sworn in on Sunday.
“It is with heavy hearts that @FirstLadyOfLA and I offer our condolences to Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s family on his passing after a battle with COVID-19,” Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards tweeted.
“I am heartbroken that he will not be able to serve our people as a US Representative, but I am even more devastated for his loving family,” Edwards said.
Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, and two young children.
“The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected time,” his family said in a statement to US media.
Edwards said he has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of Letlow’s funeral.
Letlow had announced on Dec 18 that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantining at home. He was hospitalised three days later.
Letlow is the first member of the US Congress to die of COVID-19.
The US has seen a troubling surge in coronavirus cases in recent months. As of Monday evening, the country had recorded 19,526,228 cases with 337,918 deaths, both by far the worst tolls in the world. — NNN-AGENCIES
