Joe Biden prepares the United States for the Omicron variant
Delta variant, Omicron variant: to face the winter and the epidemic rebound, and without further tensing an American population weary of the pandemic and less and less convinced by its health management, President Joe Biden presented a new plan for fight against Covid-19.
The White House unveiled a series of initiatives in a document which, however, contains no spectacular announcements, and above all no new measures of a binding nature for American citizens. The Biden administration is relying more on strengthening already existing arrangements.
In addition to the obligation to present a negative test of less than twenty-four hours for international travelers, the Biden administration extends until March 18 the obligation to wear the mask in public transport, which was to expire on January 18 .
The White House is also announcing measures to increase screening: tests performed at home will be reimbursed by private health insurance, and the number of tests distributed free of charge will be doubled to 50 million.
A first case of the Omicron variant was confirmed in California in a fully vaccinated person returning from South Africa: tested positive, she “Showed mild symptoms that were improving”the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) said in a statement.
With less than 60% of Americans of all ages fully immunized, the White House must convince those who aren’t to take the plunge, but also persuade those who are to receive a booster dose., while encouraging parents to have their children vaccinated from the age of 5.