Bidens July 4 Gathering Celebrates Progress Against Covid-19 – The Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTONAddressing a celebratory July 4 crowd at the White House, President Biden declared that the United States is closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus but emphasized the importance of vaccinations.

Mr. Biden has for months cited Independence Day as a moment when Americans could see a return to something like normalcy, saying early in his presidency that he hoped families would be able to gather for the holiday. More than 50% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and Covid-19 cases have plummeted from the winter highs.

Businesses are reopening, and the economy is recovering.The weekend is expected to be a busy one for travel, with Americans hitting the road after a year of lockdowns.

But vaccinations have slowed in recent months. The White House recently acknowledged that the U.S. wouldnt reach the presidents goal of getting at least one coronavirus vaccine dose to 70% of the adult population by July 4. The highly transmissible Delta variant of the virus is spreading rapidly. And a recent surge in the inflation rate has some economists worried about the economy overheating.

On Sunday evening, roughly 1,000 peoplemostly essential workers and military familiesgathered on the White Houses South Lawn. It was covered with red, white and blue decorations and dotted with festive tables and signs that read Americas Back Together. The crowd listened to military bands and dined on burgers, chicken sandwiches and pulled pork.

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Bidens July 4 Gathering Celebrates Progress Against Covid-19 - The Wall Street Journal