White House reveals plan for next phase of COVID-19 fight

(Hill) – White House on Wednesday revealed the plan to fight COVID-19 in its new phase, with the virus moving from a state of crisis to a lesser threat, not dominating daily life.

The plan comes as the omicron wave has waned and many are eager to turn the tide of the pandemic. President Joe Biden in his State on Tuesday night said that COVID-19 “no longer needs to take control of our lives” in “this new time”.

The White House said the 96-page plan would require new funding from Congress, although there was no specific amount for each category. Ahead of the March 11 government funding deadline, the White House recently formally outlined the need for $30 billion focused on domestic needs and $5 billion for global vaccinations.

“In order to fully implement this plan, Congress needs to invest efforts in operational tools,” the document states. “This plan provides a roadmap to help us fight COVID-19 into the future as we move America from crisis to a point where COVID-19 does not disrupt our daily lives and is what We prevent, protect and treat.”

The risk of a new variant accelerating progress remains a threat, and the plan calls for increased monitoring and data collection aimed at monitoring new variants.

The National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan is organized around four key areas: protecting and treating COVID-19, preparing for new variants, preventing shutdowns, and immunizing the world .

It calls for scaling up vaccine production so that an additional 1 billion doses of vaccine can be produced each year.

A new “trial to treat” program, announced by Biden on Tuesday night, will allow people to get the treatment right at the pharmacy if they test positive, with the first sites coming out. eyes this month.

After a shortage of tests hit the country over Christmas amid the omicron wave, the plan calls for continued investment in improving testing supplies.

A new website will provide people with information about the virus risk in their area, as well as nearby resources like where to get free masks or vaccines.

“The Administration will work with Congress to reinstate tax credits to help small and medium-sized businesses provide paid family and sick leave to address COVID-related absences.” The plan said, as part of efforts to bring back workers, including the federal workforce.

The global immunization effort, whose advocates have for months pushed for action and greater urgency, will focus in part on helping vaccinate abroad after they have distributed the doses themselves. But like other elements of the plan, the plan notes that the effort will require more funding from Congress.