Biden stated that “This weekend is a holiday weekend” as he answered journalists’ “negative questions” about the U.S. troop withdrawal in Afghanistan. “I’m going be celebrating it,” he said.
After 16 months of suffering from the pandemic, and more than 605,000 deaths, Biden encourages Americans to also celebrate. The White House encouraged people to gather and display fireworks all over the country in celebration of the nation’s independence from the virus.
There is reason to be happy: COVID-19 deaths and cases are at or close to record lows, thanks to the strong U.S. vaccine program. Restaurants and businesses are open, the hiring process is improving and travel is closer to pre-pandemic levels.
It’s not a “Mission Accomplished”, moment. COVID-19 is still a deadly virus that causes more than 200 deaths each day in the United States. It’s also spreading quickly at home and abroad. Tens of millions of Americans are refusing to receive the vaccines.
“If you have had the vaccine, you are doing great,” Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis (infectious disease physician at John Cochran VA Medical Center, St. Louis Board of Health) said. “If you don’t have the vaccine, you should be concerned. There’s no quick fix.
She said, “But that doesn’t take away the fact that this nation is in a significantly improved place.”
Biden will host the biggest event of his presidency at the White House South Lawn on Sunday. He sees it as an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the vaccine campaign he fought for. This will be the most clear indication yet that the U.S. is now in a new phase with its virus response. It has gone from a national emergency into a localized crisis of individual accountability and from vaccinating Americans towards promoting global health.
Biden stated Friday that the Fourth of July this year was different from last year’s Fourth of July. It’s going to get better next year.
Over the weekend, top officials from the Biden administration traveled across the country to promote the greatly improved virus situation under “America’s back Together.”
The president failed to reach the vaccination goal that he had set for Fourth of July with much fanfare.