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WASHINGTON – On his second day in office, President Joe Biden will sign 10 executive orders to step up Covid-19 vaccinations, expand testing and reopen schools as he outlines a detailed plan to fight the pandemic.
The new administration will increase the number of vaccination sites by establishing federal community vaccination centers in stadiums, gymnasiums and conference centers staffed with thousands of additional workers, some from federal agencies and the military, as well as as first responders.
Biden’s plan also looks for ways to speed up vaccine production, including using the Defense Production Act, strengthening the supply chain, and freeing up more federal government reserves. Biden will encourage all states to start immunizing people 65 and older, as well as some essential workers, including teachers and grocery store workers.
Biden has set an ambitious goal of delivering 100 million shots in 100 days – stepping up the pace of the 17 million shots recorded by the Trump administration in just over a month. Administration officials believe they have the resources and resources to achieve the goal, but said they would need funding from Congress to expand vaccinations to a wider population, increase testing and help schools to reopen. Biden is asking for more than $ 400 million for the pandemic response as part of a $ 1.9 trillion stimulus package.
“As we urgently implement the strategy, we need Congress to act – and act quickly. Congress must provide the necessary funding in the Covid relief program, the American Rescue Plan, which the president will send soon, “Jeffrey Zients, Biden’s Covid-19 response coordinator, said on a call with reporters.
Biden also plans to sign an executive order on Thursday to require people to wear masks at airports and on planes, trains and sea ships and to require international travelers to test negative for Covid-19 before they depart. for the United States.
Biden’s coronavirus team said that due to a lack of information sharing by the Trump administration during the transition, they were only beginning to familiarize themselves with the state of the vaccination program. Officials have just started evaluating the supply and production schedule to determine how much vaccine they can release while still being able to ensure there is enough left over for people to receive their second doses. , Zients said.
Biden said he wants the majority of K-8 schools to open in his first 100 days. To achieve this, he will sign a presidential memorandum reimbursing schools for extra cleaning, protective equipment, and other costs associated with returning students to the classroom through disaster relief funds from the Federal Agency for the Management of Human Rights. emergencies. He will also lead his administration to develop new reopening guidelines.
Biden will also order agencies to use their powers, including the Defense Production Act, to speed up production of shortage items, and he will order FEMA to increase the federal rebate from 75% to 100% of the cost of National Guard, emergency personnel and supplies needed to establish vaccination centers.
The administration said it would start hosting regular, science-led public briefings and increase the amount of data shared publicly, including metrics regarding race, health care system capacity and vaccine supply.
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“The federal government should be the source of truth for the public to obtain clear, accessible and scientifically accurate information on Covid-19,” Zients said. “We will be honest, transparent and direct with the American people to rebuild that trust.”
Biden issued more than a dozen executive orders and memoranda during his early tenure on Wednesday, overturning many features of President Donald Trump’s tenure and beginning to leave his mark on how the United States will respond to their multiple crises. Aides said further executive action is expected in the days and weeks to come.
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