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 In a speech, Biden will focus on six areas, including new plans to
get more people vaccinated, enhancing protection for those who
already have had shots and keeping schools open, according to a
White House official.
The speech would also cover increasing testing and mask-wearing,
protecting an economic recovery from the pandemic-induced recession
and improving healthcare for people infected with the disease, the
official said.
"We know that increasing vaccinations will stop the spread of the
pandemic, will get the pandemic under control, will return people to
normal life," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters
on Wednesday. "We have more work to do, and we are still at war with
the virus."
Increasing infections have raised concerns as children head back to
school, while also rattling investors and upending company
return-to-office plans.
Just over 53% of Americans are fully vaccinated, including almost
two-thirds of the adult population, according to CDC data. The
disease has killed more than 649,000 Americans.
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 With many Americans still
skeptical of the shots, the White House has
already announced plans to give those who are
fully vaccinated booster shots for more
additional protection.
In doing so, they have rejected arguments from
the World Health Organization and other
advocates that rich countries should hold off on
booster shots before more people worldwide have
been inoculated.
Biden is set to deliver the speech at 5 p.m.
(2100 GMT) from the White House State Dining
Room, according to his public schedule.
(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by
Robert Birsel)
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