The Biden administration calls on boosters to take action against the fast spread of omicron. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s ravages, the United States’ population growth has slowed to its lowest level in history, according to numbers released Tuesday by the Census Bureau.
Coronavirus caused a halt in immigration, a halt in pregnancies, and the death of nearly 800,000 people in the United States. The population of the United States increased by barely 0.1 percent from July 2020 and July 2021, or an additional 392,665 persons.
It is the first time since 1937 that the population of the United States has increased by less than one million people, and it is the lowest increase since at least 1900, when the Census Bureau began estimating population growth.
Reduced birth rates, decreased foreign migration, and growing death rates as a result of an older population have all contributed to population growth slowing in recent years.
According to Kristie Wilder, a demographer of the United States Census Bureau, “With the effect of the COVID-19 epidemic, this combination has resulted in a historically sluggish pace of growth.”
“We’ve made preparations for what’s to come today. We were not prepared when the deadline came up in March 2020 “Biden made the statement.
Because of the fast spread of omicron, the president acknowledged that Americans are concerned about visiting family and friends during the holidays. Biden emphasised the need of booster doses and immunizations for youngsters, particularly those between the ages of 5 and 11.
“Those who have had booster injections are quite well protected. Come with them, “he explained.
The president announced intentions to expand the COVID-19 testing network by thousands of new facilities, as well as a federal government purchase of half a billion at-home fast test kits. Before January, Americans will be unable to order the at-home tests on the internet, meaning they will not be able to obtain the kits before millions of people are scheduled to travel for Christmas.
Jen Psaki, press secretary for the White House, said the federal government is still working out the specifics of the programme, including whether or not certain groups would be given priority treatment.
Additionally, the Biden administration has begun sending 50 million tests to community health clinics this month, bringing the total number of tests available to 500 million.
The Biden administration intends to make at-home testing a covered expenditure and, if possible, to increase access to free tests for those who are uninsured or underinsured.
“It’s a lot better than it used to be, and we’re taking efforts to make it simpler to be tested, and to make it more affordable to get tested.” “The president made the statement.
Mayor-elect Eric Adams of New York City has postponed his inauguration event, which was slated for January 1 inside at Brooklyn’s Kings Theater. Adams, who will still be elected mayor on that day, stated the ceremony will be delayed for a later date in order to “prioritise” the health of those in attendance, as well as the health of the ceremony’s staff and reporters.
According to Adams, “It is evident that our city is up against a tough adversary in the omicron variety of COVID-19, and that the surge in cases poses a major threat to public health.”
In an interview with the New York Times, Mayor Bill de Blasio stated that he intends to make a decision by Christmas on whether the historic Times Square New Year’s Eve event will take place.
