‘It’s over’: Biden’s bold call on Covid
President Joe Biden has made a huge pandemic call as over 400 Americans continue to die with Covid-19 each day.
World
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The Covid-19 pandemic is “over” according to US President Joe Biden – even as data still shows over 400 Americans die from the virus each day.
Mr Biden made the declaration during an interview with US broadcaster CBS on Sunday (Monday in Australia).
“The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with Covid, we’re still doing a lot of work on it, but the pandemic is over.
“If you notice, no one’s wearing masks.
“Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape … I think it’s changing.”
US health authorities in August extended the Covid-19 public health emergency, which began in January 2020.
It will be reviewed in mid-October.
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Over one million Americans have died with the coronavirus disease over course of the pandemic.
Data from Johns Hopkins University shows over 400 people a day are still dying with the virus, with 2991 deaths reported in the last week.
Others appear to share Mr Biden’s optimism, albeit to a lesser extent.
On Wednesday last week, World Health Organisation director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the world may be nearing the end of the pandemic.
“Last week, the number of weekly reported deaths from Covid-19 was the lowest since March 2020,” Dr Ghebreyesus said.
“We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic – we’re not there yet, but the end is in sight.”
As well as the bold call on the pandemic, Mr Biden issued forceful warnings to China and Russia and expressed optimism over the US economic rebound during the rare interview with 60 Minutes.
Mr Biden, who turns 80 in November, told interviewer Scott Pelley that re-election was his “intention” but the President stopped just short of officially confirming he’ll run again.
“But is it a firm decision that I run again? That remains to be seen,” he said.
“It’s much too early.”
Mr Biden also told the program he was “optimistic” after surveying the state of the world’s largest economy while making the bold assertion that his administration could tame inflation – the main reason cited for his weak approval ratings and the reason Republicans believe they can take control of Congress in the upcoming November midterms.
“We’re going to get control of inflation,” he said.
– Additional reporting from AFP
Originally published as ‘It’s over’: Biden’s bold call on Covid
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