[Crystal Hill]-On Bidens day 2, COVID is at the top of his agenda

On his first full day in office, President Biden signed additional orders to increase testing and speed up vaccinations, a day after the record number of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. exceeded 4,400.

In addition to Wednesday's actions, which mandate the use of anti-federal masks and membership in the World Health Organization, Biden on Thursday signed 10 orders and directives to expand access to testing and security equipment, open schools safely, and achieve his administration's lofty goal. According to a White House document outlining his pandemic strategy, he will manage 100 million personnel by the end of his first 100 days in office.

According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 400,000 people in the United States have died from COVID-19, and nearly 25 million Americans have been infected. Biden acknowledged the death toll could reach 500,000 next month. Bloomberg reports that nearly 17 million shots have been fired in the U.S. since vaccinations began Dec. 14, but the vaccines used require two different doses to get maximum immunity.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden reviewed the Covid-19 reaction before U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (L) signed the executive orders on January 21, 2021, at the White House State Kitchen in Washington. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)
President Biden spoke about the COVID-19 reaction during a review by Vice President Kamala Harris. (Mandel Ngan / AFP)
Biden's orders came after at least one new variant of the virus emerged - it is contagious and could reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. Biden warned that there were dark days ahead and that there would be more deaths during the vaccine deployment.

The president acknowledged the death toll on Thursday and told reporters that journalists were more than the total number of Americans killed during World War II.

“It’s a wartime operation,” he said. Biden signed an order ordering agencies to exercise appropriate powers, including the Defense Industry Act - a law in 1950 that allowed private companies to New Tren Here prioritize federal government orders for national defense - producing and supplying the necessary equipment to respond to the pandemic, such as the N95 masks. , foam swabs and rapid test kits, as well as vaccine production, delivery and administration. 

To achieve his 100 million goal, Biden said his team set a goal of creating 100 next month, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is set to begin building the first federally supported collective vaccination centers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to launch the vaccination program in local pharmacies next month.

Biden said Thursday that it will take months for most Americans to be vaccinated.

Testing and PPE

Biden also issued an order aimed at strengthening COVID-19 testing. The order establishes the COVID-19 Anti-Pandemic Test Board, which aims to expand the supply of test kits and expand testing capabilities.

He led FEMA, which aims to increase federal reimbursement for National Guard personnel and emergency costs to states and tribes from 75 percent to 100 percent.

Boxes containing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are ready to be shipped to the Olive Branch Distribution Center in Missouri on December 20 (pool via Paul Sancya / Reuters)
Boxes containing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are set to be shipped to the Olive Branch Distribution Center in Missouri on December 20 (pool by Paul Sancya / Reuters)
COVID treatment options and injustice

Another command is to determine COVID-19 treatment options. It sets out a “pre-clinical drug detection and development program” that evaluates possible treatments that can be developed in response to the disease. The order also expands access to programs that help patients recover from COVID-19.

The Biden administration said this would enhance the collection, production, sharing and analysis of COVID-19 data and allow federal and local governments to identify differences in COVID infections and monitor access to vaccines and tests.