{"id":121622,"date":"2021-05-30T22:38:11","date_gmt":"2021-05-31T05:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.46.6.243\/?p=121622"},"modified":"2021-05-30T22:38:11","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T05:38:11","slug":"president-biden-celebrating-the-significant-progress-virginia-has-made-in-the-fight-against-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=121622","title":{"rendered":"President Biden Celebrating the Significant Progress Virginia Has Made in the Fight Against COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Alexandria, VA&#8230;I don\u2019t know about you all, but following a governor, introducing the President in front of about half the legislature and the national press when I was junior in high school \u2014 no, it wouldn\u2019t be close.  (Laughter.)  I just want you to remember me when you\u2019re President.  When I go by, don\u2019t say, \u201cJoe, who?\u201d  Okay?  Promise me?  (Laughter.) <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VrQCVgVwCCY\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Before I begin, I\u2019d like to say a quick word about an old friend of mine \u2014 a quick word about Senator John Warner.  I had the privilege of serving with John for three decades in the United States Senate.  And I can say, without hesitation, he was a man of conscience and a man of honor.  And in his life full of honors, the most enduring was his service to the people of Virginia.  And we\u2019re going to miss him dearly. <\/p>\n<p>And, you know, John took chances.  I was stunned \u2014 pleased and stunned when, in the middle of my primary, John endorsed me for President of the United States.  It was how things sort of used to be back in the old days in the United States when I first got there.  People \u2014 that wouldn\u2019t \u2014 didn\u2019t happen that often, but people would cross the aisle to work with one another.  <\/p>\n<p>John was a man of great integrity, and \u2014 and he\u2019s missed \u2014 going to be missed.  And Virginia was just fortunate to have him as long as they did. <\/p>\n<p>Now, Jacob, I want to thank you for sharing your story.  And I want to \u2014 you pointed out that my wife works for the governor.  (Laughter.)  No wonder she doesn\u2019t pay attention to me when I\u2019m in \u2014 around the governor. <\/p>\n<p>But all kidding aside, I\u2019m very proud of the fact that Jill has \u2014 teaching is not what Jill does; teaching is who she is.  And she\u2019s done it her \u2014 her whole adult life, and she\u2019s still doing it. <\/p>\n<p>I know some people said, \u201cWhen you\u2019re First Lady, are you going to continue to teach?\u201d  She said, \u201cYes,\u201d but I don\u2019t think she bargained for having to teach online initially.  (Laughter.)  You know, I \u2014 students \u2014 I watched her.  She spent more time \u2014 four hours a day for about a month \u2014 learning how to teach online.  So don\u2019t feel bad about you all having to do it too.  (Laughter.)  I watch the teachers have to do it. <\/p>\n<p>Any rate \u2014 and I just want to say that, you know, we\u2019re in a position now \u2014 Governor Northam, I want to thank you for your welcome to the Commonwealth.  And I want to thank you for all you\u2019re doing to help win the fight against COVID.  You\u2019re one of the best governors in the country in taking this on, and you did it from the beginning.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And, Mayor Wilson, thanks for the passport into the city.  (Laughter.)  I promise I\u2019ll leave in time, but thank you.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And Congressman Connolly and Beyer, they are both members of Congress but Congressman Connolly got to the Congress with a real impediment.  He worked for me for years before that on my staff.  (Laughter.)  And everything has gone downhill since you left, Gerald.  (Laughter.)  But thank you. <\/p>\n<p>And I want to thank the Speaker as well and the Senate Majority Leader, as well as thank all of you working so hard for the people here in Northern Virginia.<\/p>\n<p>Four months after I took office, we\u2019re further along in this fight than anyone thought possible. <\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s remember where we were 129 days ago: When I took office, we were averaging 184,000 cases per day nationwide.  Here in Virginia, as the governor pointed out, schools were closed.  Main Street had gone quiet here and in cities all across America.  Virginia Tech, didn\u2019t play in a bowl game this winter \u2014 first time in 28 years.  And so many joys of life, large and small, had been halted by a long, dark winter. <\/p>\n<p>And, today, we\u2019ve gone from 184 [thousand] cases per day nationwide to fewer than 22 cases \u2014 22,000 cases per day.  Deaths have dropped by over 85 percent.  Tens of thousands of moms and dads, grandpops and grandmoms, brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends are still with us today who would otherwise have been lost. <\/p>\n<p>This has been true here in Virginia particularly.  From 43,000 cases the week before I took office to fewer than 2,800 in the past week \u2014 a 93 percent decline. <\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve been able to do it for three reasons.  First, we planned and executed a vaccination effort at a scale and speed never before seen here or anywhere in the world. <\/p>\n<p>Here in Virginia, that meant $247 million in federal funding for community vaccinations sites; over 360 federally funded National Guard members supporting this state\u2019s COVID-19 response; getting doses to community healthcare centers, a thousand pharmacies all across Virginia; and creating a mass vaccination site in Norfolk initially run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Navy in partnership with Virginia. <\/p>\n<p>The second reason that we succeeded is: Governors, like Governor Northam, have been instrumental partners.  Leaders in red states and blue states working with businesses, faith leaders, community groups to get it done at a local level. <\/p>\n<p>And thirdly and most crucially, the American people.  More than 165 million Americans so far have done their patriotic duty; 165 million have gotten at least one shot.  Americans of every party, every race, and creed have come together and rolled up their sleeves, literally, and done their part. <\/p>\n<p>Now 51 percent of American adults have been fully vaccinated.  Seventy-five percent of seniors are fully vac- \u2014 vaccinated, leaving nobody behind: Black, white, Hispanic.  Across the world \u2014 across the board, they\u2019ve been getting their vaccinations.<\/p>\n<p>In Virginia, 55 percent \u2014 as the Governor said \u2014 of all adults are vaccinated.  I believe that\u2019s the right number, Gov.  And look at what that means: We aren\u2019t just saving lives; we\u2019re getting our lives back.  Stores and restaurants up and down Main Street are hanging \u201copen\u201d signs on their front doors.<\/p>\n<p>And here, in a rock-climbing gym, we\u2019re greeted by another \u2014 and we\u2019re greeting one another with smiles, with our masks off.  And I\u2019m about to do this 60-foot wall but you \u2014 (laughter).<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll tell you what: I work out every morning, but I said, \u201cI \u2014 I have trouble holding those grips there.\u201d  (Laughter.)  And the young man said to me \u2014 he said, \u201cThe way to work your hands\u2026\u201d \u2014 he said, \u201cget a kettlebell, a light one, and just put it under your fingers and work it that way.\u201d  Tonight, I\u2019m trying.  (Laughter.) <\/p>\n<p>But, folks, look, in Norfolk and Fredericksburg, fans are \u2014 are heading back to the Minor League ballparks, pools and parks are opening up across the state, families are heading down to spend Memorial Day weekend in Virginia Beach. <\/p>\n<p>And all over the country, we\u2019ve gone from pain and stagnation of a long, dark winter to an economy on the move, growing faster than it has in nearly 40 years.  From anemic job creation in the months before I took office, to the fastest job creation in the first three months of any administration in American history and rising wages.  Rising wages.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>As more Americans get vaccinated, the days grow brighter and brighter.  But let me be clear: We\u2019re not done yet.  We have to reach those who are not vaccinated and make it as easy as possible for them to get protected.<\/p>\n<p>I set an ambitious goal of getting 70 percent of adult Americans at least one shot by July the 4th.  Today, just over a month to go, we\u2019re at 62 percent.  Ten states have already reached the 70 percent milestone.  Virginia is at 66; it\u2019s moving closer every day.<\/p>\n<p>And continuing on all \u2014 counting on \u2014 on just all the help and continuing this process is really \u2014 I think you\u2019re going to get the job done here in Virginia pretty quickly, Gov.<\/p>\n<p>To hit 70 percent and keep sprinting through the finish line is what we\u2019re all about.  If we succeed, we can celebrate our independence from the virus together on the Fourth of July as we celebrate our independence as a nation.  And the future is only going to get brighter because there will be no doubt what America can achieve when we do it together.<\/p>\n<p>I know when I ran for office I said I wanted to do three things, one of which was to unite the country.  It\u2019s difficult, but this is the first real evidence that we\u2019re able to do it.  The American people are more ready to come together, I believe, than the Congress and the elected officials are, but we\u2019re getting there.<\/p>\n<p>If you aren\u2019t vaccinated yet, it\u2019s never been easier.  If convenience is the issue, there are 80,000 locations.  Visit Vaccines.gov or text your ZIP Code to 438829 and you\u2019ll find the sites nearest you; it will pop up immediately.  And in almost all cases, you don\u2019t need an appointment.<\/p>\n<p>If transportation is an issue \u2014 I want to thank Lyft and Uber.  They\u2019ve come forward and they\u2019ve offered free rides to and from vaccination sites through the July 4th.  So anybody who says they can\u2019t get there, call Lyft or Uber.  They\u2019re doing a patriotic thing.  They\u2019ll come and pick you up, take you to the vaccination center, get you, wait for you, and take you back to your home or wherever you emerged from.<\/p>\n<p>And, you know, if cost is an issue, don\u2019t let \u2014 don\u2019t be concerned; the vaccine is 100 percent free.  And if time is an issue, there are 10,000 [tens of thousands] sites offering vaccinations without an appointment \u2014 1,000 pharmacies in Virginia alone.  And the vast majority offer no appointment \u2014 with no appointment required.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve made extraordinary progress.  Every American should be proud of what we\u2019ve accomplished, and we did it together.  But we still have five weeks left to hit our goal.  You know, we \u2014 and I know we can do it.  Just look at what we\u2019ve done so far. <\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s not a single thing \u2014 and I\u2019ve been saying this a long time \u2014 and I think a lot of the press, they\u2019re smart as the devil, think I\u2019m being na\u00efve \u2014 there\u2019s nothing we cannot accomplish if we do it together.  I really believe that.  Nothing.  Nothing.  Nothing we\u2019ve ever set our mind to as Americans that we\u2019ve failed at when we\u2019ve done it together.  And, Virginia, you know you\u2019re doing your part.<\/p>\n<p>So, you know, I remember I always would hear the \u2014 in the last administration, I\u2019d hear when they\u2019d talk about vaccines and that, \u201cWe\u2019re going to \u2014 and we\u2019re going to make great \u2014 great progress.\u201d  And they\u2019d say, \u201cThere\u2019s light at the end of the tunnel.\u201d  I was reminded of my generation in the \u201960s.  There was a very raunchy comedian who\u2019d say, \u201cYeah, there\u2019s light\u2026\u201d \u2014 when he\u2019s talking about the Vietnam War.  He said, \u201cYeah, there\u2019s light at the end of the tunnel.  It\u2019s a freight train.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Well, this time there\u2019s sunlight at the end of the tunnel.  There\u2019s real light.  There\u2019s real light. <\/p>\n<p>And, Gov \u2014 I really mean this; I\u2019m not being political \u2014 you\u2019ve done one hell of a job, Doc.  You\u2019ve done a hell of a job and it matters.  It matters. <\/p>\n<p>So I want to thank you all.  God bless you.  God protect our troops. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alexandria, VA&#8230;I don\u2019t know about you all, but following a governor, introducing the President in front of about half the legislature and the national press when I was junior in high school \u2014 no, it wouldn\u2019t be close. (Laughter.) I just want you to remember me when you\u2019re President. When I go by, don\u2019t say, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":121623,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-121622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-5302021-103407-PM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=121622"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121622\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/121623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=121622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=121622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=121622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}