In what can only be described as the most frustrating public saga in living memory, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ruin life for nearly everyone. When lockdown efforts began nearly a year ago, in March of 2020, many people optimistically hoped they’d be able to return to their normal life in a few weeks, maybe two months, tops. Then-president Donald Trump suggested that the lockdowns would be lifted by Easter.
Of course, after a summer marked by rising COVID cases and widespread civil unrest due to police brutality, it became clear that the pandemic was settling in for a long stay. This has led to ongoing tension, as some frustrated citizens have bucked everything from mask-wearing to social distancing. Along the way, health experts have suggested ever further-out dates for when the US could expect to get back to normal.
Now, with nearly a year of painful lockdowns and heartbreaking loss of life behind the country, top health experts advising President Joe Biden have given a grim outlook. During a town hall meeting on Tuesday, Biden urged patience, noting that it would likely be until Christmas 2021 before things could realistically be back to normal.
Scaling Up Vaccinations
One of the most critical elements of the effort to stop the pandemic is the vaccination effort. Two vaccines, one from Pfizer and one from Moderna, were approved for use in December 2020. Another, from Johnson and Johnson, is currently seeking regulatory approval. Health experts agree that these vaccines provide the most realistic path out of the pandemic.
However, the vaccine effort has not been completely smooth and easy. Biden describes the vaccine infrastructure he inherited from the Trump Administration as woefully inadequate, stating “the refrigerator was empty,” both metaphorically and literally. While the vaccines themselves were created in record time, the difficulty now is in administering them to patients.
Biden Is Sick of Hearing About His Predecessor
During the Tuesday town hall meeting in Milwaukee, the president tried to shift focus from Trump following the end of the former president’s second impeachment trial. Less than a month into his term, Biden is looking to turn the page on the previous administration, and is now refocusing on selling his $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill to the American people.
Indeed, the bill remains popular among the average voter. The main reason for this, polling suggests, is that the relief bill contains a provision to give many Americans direct payments of $1,400.
