White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki insists that the U.S. has not “lost control” of the COVID-19 pandemic as the country has shattered records for the number of infections recorded per day.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe noted, “Cases are rising. Tests are hard to come by in many places, or there’s long lines for them. Schools are closing again or having to go virtual…There is a sense among many that the country has lost control of the virus.”
“Would the White House agree with that?” he asked.
Psaki responded, “We would not.”
“And here’s why, we’re in a very different place than we were a year ago, Ed. Two hundred million are vaccinated. Those are people who are protected — seriously protected from illness and death from the virus. We have also just purchased the largest over-the-counter purchases of tests, in history, 500 million tests,” she continued.
She also noted that 97% of schools around the country are open.
Finally, Psaki noted that Democrats’ $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed last year provided $130 billion to help schools reopen safely and $10 billion for coronavirus testing.
“We have taken steps to prepare for any contingency, any moment, and we’re working to build on that,” she added.
Watch the video below:
REPORTER: "[COVID] cases are rising across the country. Tests are hard to come by…Schools are closing again or having to go virtual…There is a sense among many that the country has lost control of the virus. Would the White House agree with that?
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 4, 2022
PSAKI: "We would not." pic.twitter.com/8yIOfRMF6k
On Monday, the U.S. recorded over 1 million new cases, shattering the record for the high number of infections reported in a single day.
The country is recording an average of 486,658 new cases per day, a 239% increase from two weeks ago.
Additionally, the surge in cases has an impact on everyday life.
Last week, staffing shortages caused by the coronavirus led to the suspension of the service of three subway lines in New York City and three trains in New Jersey. And airlines were forced to cancel thousands of domestic flights and international flights due to staffing shortages from the virus and winter weather.
And a number of school districts around the country announced they would temporarily switch to remote learning.
