COVID Update: What did President Biden announce today and why.
The story. Follow if interested here. 1/
The story. Follow if interested here. 1/
President Biden’s announcement today that federal workforces and on-site contractors must demonstrate that they are not infectious is as much about ensuring safe workplaces as it is driving up vaccinations. 2/
The federal workforce, over 2 million civilians, serves the public. And his commitment to keep them safe while they do that is one of his commitments as a leader. 3/
His announcement is respectful of people’s choices.
Wear a mask, physically distance, and demonstrate a negative test result either 1x or 2x per week OR avoid all thst by getting vaccinated. 4/
Wear a mask, physically distance, and demonstrate a negative test result either 1x or 2x per week OR avoid all thst by getting vaccinated. 4/
Is this intended as a first step? Yes. In the following ways:
-The President is looking at all federal contractors. They would be wise to start implementing this policy if they want federal business.
-Secretary Austin is being directed as to how & when they will do the same. 5/
-The President is looking at all federal contractors. They would be wise to start implementing this policy if they want federal business.
-Secretary Austin is being directed as to how & when they will do the same. 5/
Health care is in sharp focus:
-The VA is implementing vaccinations for all providers & others who touch patients. We have lost too many veterans not to do this
-50 leading health care societies are recommending the same for all health care & long term care workers 6/
-The VA is implementing vaccinations for all providers & others who touch patients. We have lost too many veterans not to do this
-50 leading health care societies are recommending the same for all health care & long term care workers 6/
But there’s more to the president’s announcement and it is this: we don’t give up on anyone, ever.
7/
7/
Research shows that many of the unvaccinated are still not able to get time off of work. If you work an hourly job cleaning hotel rooms and you’re not given time off, keeping your job can supersede taking care of your health. 8/
The President announced today that small & medium-sized businesses will be reimbursed for allowing employees AND THEIR FAMILIES time off to get vaccinated.
1/2 the workforce does NOT get paid time off to get vaccinated. And we have seen that 3/4 get vaccinated when given PTO. 9/
1/2 the workforce does NOT get paid time off to get vaccinated. And we have seen that 3/4 get vaccinated when given PTO. 9/
Because some still aren’t getting PTO or have a difficult time getting to a vaccine site (or just need a nudge), the President is calling on all states, tribes & territories to use ARP funds (funds the fed govt supplied) to provide $100 to those who choose to get vaccinated.10/
We want to go on offense against COVID?
This is how we do it. Use this moment. 10/
This is how we do it. Use this moment. 10/
1. Major private employers, universities, and venues are beginning to follow suit. And many more will. And everyone should. It is respectful of those who choose not to be vaccinated.
More importantly it’s respectful of those not eligible to get vaccinated. 11/
More importantly it’s respectful of those not eligible to get vaccinated. 11/
2. The populist anti-vaccine/it’s up to you/all government action is tyranny crowd are being drowned out by reality.
Republicans are beginning to speak out. Delta is bringing them off the sidelines.
Arkansas and Alabama have 90% increases in vaccinations as the Govs push.12/
Republicans are beginning to speak out. Delta is bringing them off the sidelines.
Arkansas and Alabama have 90% increases in vaccinations as the Govs push.12/
3. When they thought the pandemic was over they decided to fight a culture war. Now that they know it’s serious, those still yelling look like who they are: cranks who crave attention. 13/
4. The Administration is not taking misinformation lying down.
The social media platforms have been called to account. 80% of the lies getting to the unvaccinated can be made to disappear with little effort. 14/
The social media platforms have been called to account. 80% of the lies getting to the unvaccinated can be made to disappear with little effort. 14/
The Biden Administration can do so much. The CDC can do so much. The FDA can do so much. But none of it would be enough.
Today the President kicked into motion the next stage of what he has always talked about: a national effort where everyone does their part. 15/
Today the President kicked into motion the next stage of what he has always talked about: a national effort where everyone does their part. 15/
Calling on other people to do stuff is easy. Doing your part is where we need to start.
If every business, school, social media platform, and local government asked what more they could do & did it, we would make the gains and it would encourage others. 16/
If every business, school, social media platform, and local government asked what more they could do & did it, we would make the gains and it would encourage others. 16/
We are best when we act collectively. On the few times over the course of the pandemic when we have— providing relief packages, voluntarily staying home, sewing masks for workers, rolling out the vaccine this year— we are winning. When we don’t, we all lose.
17/
17/
These actions from the President wing be universally popular, but they are what I witnessed from my time in the Administration: leadership.
It gives so many of us an opportunity to do the same. /end
It gives so many of us an opportunity to do the same. /end
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