Biden commemorates 500,000 American lives lost to COVID-19

Hours after the United States crossed the threshold of 500,000 dead of COVID-19[female[femininePresident Biden commemorated the lives lost in the past year on Monday evening. No other country has lost more lives to the year-long pandemic than the United States

“Today we mark a really dark and heartbreaking milestone,” he said in a brief speech to the White House. “500,071 dead. More Americans died in one year in this pandemic than in World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War combined.”

Remembrance, Mr. Biden said, is an important part of the healing process, both for individuals and for the nation. Shortly before the event, the president ordered the White House flags to be halved. Candles adorned the steps of the White House residence at the South Lawn, as President, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Mr. Doug Emhoff gazed out at the South Lawn in a moment of silence .

“This is how you heal – you have to remember that,” Mr. Biden said. “And it’s also important to do that as a nation. Those who have lost loved ones, here’s what I know: they never really left. They will always be a part of your heart.”

The president, who lost his first wife and first daughter in a car crash decades ago, and whose son Beau died after a battle with cancer in 2015, sympathized with those who have lost loved ones over the past year.

“I know what it’s like not to be there when it happens. I know what it’s like when we’re there, holding their hands, looking them in the eye as they walk away.” Mr. Biden said. “… that movie theater where you met. The morning coffee you shared together.”

The president called on the country to move forward by taking precautions to prevent more deaths. It’s not about politics, he said – it’s about neighbors, friends, daughters and sons, husbands and wives.

“We have to fight this as one people. As the United States of America … the only way to save more pain and more loss, the only way,” he said.

Overall, the number of cases and deaths per day is falling, and more than 44 million Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine in a two-dose schedule.

Despite the virus’ dizzying toll, former Food and Drug Administration chief Dr Scott Gottlieb sees reasons for optimism in the months to come. On CBS News Sunday’s “Face the Nation”, he predicted, “I think we’re going to continue to see infection rates go down in the spring and summer. Right now they’re dropping dramatically.” While he doesn’t think the United States will ever achieve “true” herd immunity, because large percentages of Americans have been infected and more and more people are being vaccinated, the disease is spread “to a much slower pace ”.