Biden Moves to Jump-Start Covid Fight With Slew of Orders – The Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTONPresident Bidens success in achieving some of his biggest policy objectivescurbing climate change, expanding health coverage and overhauling immigration lawswill depend in large part on his success in combating the coronavirus pandemic, which he sought to jump-start Thursday with a national road map and a series of executive orders.

Health experts both inside and outside the new administration agree that while accelerating vaccinations will help restore normalcy and spur momentum for Mr. Bidens broader political agenda, the opposite is also true: Failing to slow the spread of Covid-19 could also overshadow his presidency.

On Thursday, Mr. Biden sought to manage expectations. Were in a dark winter of this pandemic, he said, warning that the situation will get worse before it gets better. Its going to take many months to get where we need to be.

Mr. Biden said he expected the U.S. death toll to top 500,000 next month. Still, he promised, help is on the way.

Robert Blendon, a professor of health policy and political analysis at Harvard University, said that dealing with Covid and the economic recovery is the thing that will make the presidency in the next two years and into the 2022 election. He added, If it doesnt get better, people are going to hold the administration accountable.

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Biden Moves to Jump-Start Covid Fight With Slew of Orders - The Wall Street Journal