"We're launching the "Test to Treat" initiative so people can get
tested at a pharmacy, and if they're positive, receive antiviral
pills on the spot, at no cost," Biden said during his State of the
Union speech.
The United States has ordered more of these treatments than any
other country in the world, Biden said, adding Pfizer Inc will offer
the U.S. 1 million pills in March and more than double that in
April. The Pfizer pill, he said, reduces the chances of ending up in
the hospital by 90%.
The Biden administration will announce on Wednesday a national
preparedness plan for COVID-19, mapping out how "to move forward
safely and get back to our more normal routines," the White House
said in a statement.
The White House previously said it is lifting requirements that
fully vaccinated people wear masks on the White House campus,
effective Tuesday. It also told federal agencies they can drop
COVID-19 requirements that employees and visitors wear masks in
federal buildings in much of the country.
[to top of second column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Mar/02/images/ads/current/debbiesfloral_lda_021022.png) During his speech, Biden noted the progress
America has made in fighting the coronavirus but
warned Americans must prepare for new variants.
"I cannot promise a new variant won't come. But
I can promise you we'll do everything within our
power to be ready if it does," he said.
The U.S. is now in a position to deploy new
vaccines within 100 days instead of months or
years, he said.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose in WashingtonEditing
by Alistair Bell and Aurora Ellis)
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