Transcript - Remarks: Joe Biden Delivers Remarks on COVID-19 - December 29, 2020 | Factba.se

Joe Biden

00:00:00 - 00:00:27 ()

Good afternoon. Vice President Harris and I have just received a briefing on the COVID-19 by our team of experts, and as we end one of the most difficult years as a nation, I remain optimistic about our future. Vaccines have been discovered and developed, and there is more to come, we believe, give us enormous hope.

Joe Biden

00:00:27 - 00:00:57 ()

Our economy is poised to come back and come alive, and I can see a return to normalcy in the next year. I also see incredible opportunities for our nation in the re -- in the years ahead in job creation, clean energy, racial equality, and much more; but we need to be honest. The next few weeks and months are going to be very tough -- a very tough period for our nation-maybe the toughest during this entire pandemic.

Joe Biden

00:00:57 - 00:01:23 ()

I know it's hard to hear, but it is the truth. As Roosevelt said, I think the American people can take whatever we tell them if we tell them straight from the shoulder. We need to steel our spines for what is ahead; we need to follow even more closely the recommendations to slow the spread of the virus; and each of us needs to do what we can to protect ourselves, our families, and our fellow Americans.

Joe Biden

00:01:23 - 00:01:47 ()

We are going to get through this. Brighter days are coming, but it's going to take all of the grit and determination we have as Americans to get it done, so today I want to be clear about five things every American should know about our efforts to contain COVID-19 and where the vaccine stands today. First, things are going to get worse before they get better.

Joe Biden

00:01:47 - 00:02:17 ()

In September, we passed a grim milestone, 200,000 deaths. At that time, in this very room, many remember I warned that we would hit 400,000 deaths before the end of the Trump administration in January. Critics said I was being too alarmist and negative, but as I have said all along, I will tell you like it is when it comes to COVID, and the reality is it looks like that we are going to hit that grim milestone.

Joe Biden

00:02:17 - 00:02:43 ()

We have just crossed 330,000 deaths in America. We are averaging daily death rate of nearly 2,200 people, which means we will lose tens of thousands of more lives in the months to come. Hospitals are being stretched beyond capacity, and that is data before we see the impact of the cases coming from the recent holidays and this upcoming holiday of New Year's Eve.

Joe Biden

00:02:43 - 00:03:09 ()

People getting infected today don't show up in cases for weeks, and those who persist -- or excuse me -- those who perish from the disease die weeks after initial exposure. So we have to anticipate that the infections over the holidays will produce soaring cases counts in January and soaring death tolls into February.

Joe Biden

00:03:09 - 00:03:30 ()

You know, turning this around is going to take time. We might not see improvement until we are well into March, as it will take time for our COVID response plan to begin to produce visible progress. The second thing to know is the Trump administration's plan to distribute vaccines is falling behind, far behind.

Joe Biden

00:03:30 - 00:04:18 ()

We are grateful to the companies, the doctors, the scientists, the researchers, the clinical trial participants, and Operation Warp Speed for developing the vaccines quickly, but as I long feared and warned, the effort to distribute and administer the vaccine is not progressing as it should. A few weeks ago, the Trump administration suggested that 20 million Americans could be vaccinated by the end of December; with only a few days left in December, we have only vaccinated a few million so far, and the pace of vac -- the vaccination program is moving now if it continues to move as it is now it's going to take years not months to vaccinate the American people which brings me to the third thing every American should know.

Joe Biden

00:04:18 - 00:04:43 ()

The Biden-Harris administration will spare no effort to make sure people get vaccinated. I have laid out three challenges in our first 100 days. One of them is ensuring that 100 million shots have been administered by the end of the first 100 days. If Congress provides the funding, we would be able to meet this incredible goal.

Joe Biden

00:04:43 - 00:05:12 ()

It would take ramping up five to six times the current pace to 1 million shots a day, but even with that improvement, even if we boost the speed of vaccinations to 1 million shots a day, it will still take months to have a majority of the United States population vaccinated. I have directed my team to prepare as much more aggressive -- a much more aggressive effort with more federal involvement in leadership to get things back on track.

Joe Biden

00:05:12 - 00:05:41 ()

We will find ways to boost the pace of the vaccinations, but as Dr. Fauci and others have stated these past few days, this will take more time than anyone would like and more time than the promises from the Trump administration have suggested. This is going to be the greatest operational challenge we have ever faced as a nation, and we are going to get it done, but it's going to take a vast new effort that is not yet underway.

Joe Biden

00:05:41 - 00:06:05 ()

And to get things and you know, and that gets me to the fourth thing that we should know. I'm going to move heaven and earth to get us going in the right direction. I'm going to use my power under the Defense Production Act when I am sworn in in order -- and order private industry to accelerate the making of the materials needed for the vaccines as well as protective gear.

Joe Biden

00:06:05 - 00:06:30 ()

Vice President Harris and I have been speaking to -- with county officials, mayors, governors of both parties to speed up the distribution of the vaccines across the nation. We are planning a whole-of-government effort, and we are going to work to set up vaccination sites and send mobile units to hard reached communities -- to hard-to-reach communities.

Joe Biden

00:06:30 - 00:06:52 ()

And we also know there's a vaccination hesitancy in many communities, especially black, Latino and Native American communities who have not always been treated with the dignity and honesty they deserve by the federal government and the scientific community throughout our history. That is why we will launch a massive public education campaign to increase vaccine acceptance.

Joe Biden

00:06:52 - 00:07:13 ()

We will do everything we can to show the vaccines are safe and critically important for one's own health and that of their families and the communities. That means we are also going to make sure vaccines are distributed equitably so every person who wants a vaccine can get it no matter the color of their skin or where they live.

Joe Biden

00:07:13 - 00:07:37 ()

We are going to ensure vaccinations are free of charge. Fifth, while the pandemic rages on, and as we increase the supply, distribution, and administration of the vaccine, we have to remain vigilant. As part of the 100-day challenge, I'm going to be asking the American people to wear masks for the first 100 days of my administration.

Joe Biden

00:07:37 - 00:08:01 ()

It's not a political statement; it's a patriotic duty. Our administration is going to require mask-wearing where I have the power to do so for federal workers in federal facilities and interstate travel like planes and trains, and we have been working directly with county officials, mayors, governors to implement mask mandates in their cities and their towns and their states.

Joe Biden

00:08:01 - 00:08:32 ()

Masking has been a divisive issue in this country, but COVID is a killer in red states and blue states alike so I encourage you all to wear a mask, encourage your family and friends to do the same. It is one of the easiest things we can do that will make a huge difference and to save lives. Another 100-day challenge is opening most of our K-8 schools by the end of the first 100 days in the spring.

Joe Biden

00:08:32 - 00:09:01 ()

Look, we can only do that if Congress provides the necessary funding, so we get the schools, districts, communities, and states the resources they need for those so many things that aren't there already in a tight budget. They need funding for testing to help reopen schools, more funding for transportation so students can maintain social distances on buses, they need it for school building for additional cleaning service, protective equipment, ventilation systems.

Joe Biden

00:09:01 - 00:09:26 ()

This is going to require an additional tens of billions of dollars to get this done, and Congress also needs to fund and provide more protective equipment for frontline health workers who are still reusing masks and gowns. We need to scale up testing so anyone who needs one can get a test. After ten months of the pandemic, we still don't have enough testing.

Joe Biden

00:09:26 - 00:09:51 ()

It's a travesty. All of this-vaccinations, testing, protective gear-is going to require more funding from Congress, more than was just approved. That is why I will propose a COVID-19 action package early next year and challenge Congress to act on it quickly. Look, my ability to change the direction of this pandemic starts in three weeks.

Joe Biden

00:09:51 - 00:10:18 ()

With thousands dying every day between now and then, let me conclude by discussing what needs to happen now. I congratulate the bipartisan majority on passing the president's -- and -- and the president on signing the COVID relief bill. It still -- even though it's a step, an important step -- still moves in the right direction and it will help people in need.

Joe Biden

00:10:18 - 00:10:49 ()

And I'll -- it'll pay for some but not all of what we need to fix the COVID response. It's a down payment. But now, with that done, I hope the president will also clearly and unam -- unambiguously promote mask wearing. I give former governor Chris Christie credit. He and I have disagreed on a number of things, but I'm thankful he's now encouraging people to do the right thing and wear for themselves, their loved ones, and their country.

Joe Biden

00:10:49 - 00:11:16 ()

I hope that President Trump will listen to him. He can do it too. It would make a huge difference for President Trump to say wear masks. I hope the president will clearly and unambiguously urge all Americans to take the vaccine once it's available. I took it to instill public confidence in the vaccine. President-elect Harris took it -- took hers today for the same reason.

Joe Biden

00:11:16 - 00:11:37 ()

And when the president's doctors recommend it, President Trump should take it and instill the same degree of confidence. Let me also say -- say this to the American people. We can save, all the experts tell us, between 60 and 100,000 lives in the weeks and months ahead if we just step up together. Wear a mask.

Joe Biden

00:11:37 - 00:12:02 ()

Socially distance. Wash our hands. Avoid large indoor gatherings. I know all these are not easy to ask, but I'm asking for you to make a sacrifice. You're already making tremendous sacrifices every single day. It's hard on your lives, on your livelihoods, and your kids and your families. It's not small what we're asking of you.

Joe Biden

00:12:02 - 00:12:24 ()

But we're in this together, and the actions we take now are going to help us contain the pandemic and get us back to our lives and to our loved ones. So, the American people, to all of you, I know there's a lot that we have to do. But I want you to know there's also much we can do. We're the United States of America.

Joe Biden

00:12:24 - 00:12:41 ()

We went through hard times before as a nation and we'll come through this as well. I promise you we will. So, please, I wish you a Happy New Year. May God bless you and may God protect our troops. Wear a mask.