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Joe Biden at his regular "Covid-19 Briefing"
Photo: JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS
The US President-elect Joe Biden has committed the Americans to what is possibly the most difficult phase in the corona pandemic.
“The next few weeks and months will be very tough, a very tough period for our nation.
Perhaps the toughest in the whole pandemic, ”Biden said in Wilmington, Delaware.
"I know it's hard to hear, but it's the truth."
Biden promised Americans that when he took office on January 20, he would use his powers to expedite the manufacture of vaccines and protective equipment.
His government's goal is to ensure that 100 million vaccinations are given in its first 100 days.
"If Congress provides the means, we could achieve this incredible goal," Biden said.
He accused the administration of incumbent Donald Trump that their vaccination schedule was behind schedule.
"Rising number of deaths in February"
Biden again called on people to follow the tried and tested protective measures such as wearing masks and physical distance and to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
There have already been more than 330,000 deaths since the pandemic began - and before the situation improved, things would get worse at first, warned Biden.
"We have to be prepared for the fact that the infections over the holidays will lead to an increase in the number of cases in January and an increase in the number of deaths in February."
The United States is - if you look at the absolute numbers - the country with the most proven corona infections and confirmed deaths related to Covid-19 diseases.
On average, around 180,000 new infections were recorded every day over the past seven days.
According to the New York Times, more than 2.1 million people were vaccinated against the corona virus.
There are around 330 million people in the United States.
Meanwhile, the coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 has been detected for the first time in the US state of Colorado.
The US health authority CDC has been informed, said the office of Governor Jared Polis.
The coronavirus variant, first discovered in Great Britain, was found in a young man who is currently in isolation and has not recently traveled.
It is the first known detection of the mutated virus type in the USA.
The new coronavirus variant may be significantly more contagious than the previously known form.
After the mutation became known, most EU states decided to largely restrict travel to and from Great Britain in order to prevent it from spreading.
The mutated virus type has also been detected in Germany.
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wal / dpa