COVID-19 - As the Omicron variant tends to become the majority in the world, US President Joe Biden has called for optimism and to announce new measures to stem a wave of contaminations affecting the United States.
The Omicron variant does not spare the United States. Last week, it represented 73.2% of new Covid-19 contaminations. "We must all be concerned about Omicron," initially assured Joe Biden, during a speech dedicated to the variant on Tuesday. But, "we must not panic", also affirmed the American president, relying in particular on the vaccination: "We are not any more in March 2020. We are ready.
OMICRON VARIANT: THE PLANET ON ALERT
Joe Biden's message to the unvaccinated
In his speech, Joe Biden cited "three big differences" with the start of the pandemic, thus emphasizing vaccines, but also the abundance of personal protective equipment for caregivers in hospitals, or the knowledge accumulated on this virus.
On the other hand, Joe Biden wanted to challenge the unvaccinated, considering that they had "good reasons to be worried" and that it was their "patriotic duty" to be vaccinated. "Those who decided to not to be vaccinated are responsible for their own choices but these choices are fueled by disinformation on television and on social networks, "he also lamented.
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Before this speech, the White House had unveiled the government strategy to deal with the variant during the holidays and thus not to call for new restrictions. In particular, the authorities will distribute 500 million tests free of charge and mobilize a thousand doctors, nurses and members of the army's medical personnel. The United States will also give more than half a billion dollars in additional aid to international organizations to fight Covid-19 in the face of the Omicron outbreak.
The White House also indicated that it was not on the agenda to institute a lockdown of the school and the economy of the country. Separately, Joe Biden said he "plans" to lift travel restrictions on eight African countries, as Omicron has now spread worldwide.