The White House on Wednesday released a sweeping new 96-page plan on COVID, marking a new era in the pandemic in which the virus is still circulating but can hopefully be managed so that Americans can return to daily life without disruption.
The strategy, that President Joe Biden previewed Tuesday night in his State of the Union address, calls for making available more free rapid tests online starting next week, as well as setting up pharmacy clinics later this month that will hand out free antiviral pills to people who test positive.
"We are not going to just 'live with COVID,'" states the new strategy called the "National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan."MORE: Biden to signal new phase in pandemic as learning to live safely with COVID The White House notes in its plan that these efforts will require more money, in addition to the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package Biden pushed through last year. That money has mostly either been spent or obligated through contracts. Officials have not said yet how much would be needed.
ABC News last week first reported efforts by the White House to revise its strategy to signal a new era in the pandemic. The effort has involved private meeting with business leaders, governors and the nation's top pandemic experts to consider the various paths the virus could take in the coming months.The updated strategy comes after significant voter pressure to reopen fully the country and curb disruptions.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
White House to unveil blueprint for the next Covid phaseThe White House is planning to unveil its wide-ranging strategy for the next phase of the pandemic response on Wednesday morning
Read more »
White House signals next era in COVID with sweeping new strategyThe White House released a sweeping new 96-page plan on COVID-19, marking a new era in the pandemic in which the virus is still circulating but can hopefully be managed so that Americans can return to daily life without disruption.
Read more »
White House: 40% of free COVID tests to low-income areasThe White House says 40% of COVID-19 tests ordered through its program to distribute free at-home rapid tests have gone to Americans in distressed areas.
Read more »
Dana White Says UFC Will Find RDA New Opponent After Rafael Fiziev Got COVIDDana White says the UFC will find a fill-in opponent for Rafael dos Anjos after his UFC 272 opponent Rafael Fiziev tested positive for COVID-19.
Read more »
White House wants to 'reduce the rhetoric and deescalate' after Putin's nuclear deterrence moveThe Biden administration wants to “reduce the rhetoric and deescalate” after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his country’s deterrence forces – which include nuclear arms – to be placed on high alert, the White House said.
Read more »