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| Joe Biden says Omicron Covid variant a ‘cause for concern, not panic’ – live | Joe Biden says Omicron Covid variant a ‘cause for concern, not panic’ – live |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| President vows to ‘fight and beat this new variant’ and says best protection is to get vaccinated and boosted – follow all the latest | President vows to ‘fight and beat this new variant’ and says best protection is to get vaccinated and boosted – follow all the latest |
| White House press secretary Jen Psaki addressed the travel ban that Joe Biden issued against eight southern African countries - the omicron variant of Covid-19 was first detected in that region. | |
| “The objective here is not to punish, but to protect the American people,” Psaki said. “As you just heard the president say, this is not going to prevent - this is going to delay and that delay is going to help us have the necessary time to do the research by our health and medical teams to get more people vaccinated and more people boosted. He is always going to air on the side of protecting the American people.” | |
| Though the omicron variant has since been detected the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, France and Canada. Psaki said the reason why the ban applied to southern Africa rather than these other countries is because there were thousands of omicron cases in southern Africa while only a few cases in the other countries. . | |
| The new omicron variant is at the forefront of today’s White House press briefing. Again, there have been no reported cases on US soil yet. But White House press secretary Jen Psaki said today the administration’s top health officials are “working around the clock” to be prepared and the Centers for Disease Control is meeting today with state labs and state health associations to make sure everybody is ready on a federal, state and local level. | |
| “What the president was trying to convey is that there are several layers of work to be done right now,” Psaki said. | |
| White House press secretary Jen Psaki has taken the podium for the White House press briefing, prepping the press corps for the president’s round table meeting for Cyber Monday with the chief executives of several companies to discuss issues with the supply chain, which he will be speaking about later today. | White House press secretary Jen Psaki has taken the podium for the White House press briefing, prepping the press corps for the president’s round table meeting for Cyber Monday with the chief executives of several companies to discuss issues with the supply chain, which he will be speaking about later today. |
| Joe Biden was immediately asked about the travel ban he issued, which he said was because “there were a significant number of cases”. | Joe Biden was immediately asked about the travel ban he issued, which he said was because “there were a significant number of cases”. |
| “We needed time to get people the opportunity to get the vaccination now before it moved around the world,” he said. | “We needed time to get people the opportunity to get the vaccination now before it moved around the world,” he said. |
| Biden. said he doesn’t anticipate any more travel restrictions. Dr Anthony Fauci, Biden’s chief medical adviser, took to the podium to explain the stringent requirements already in place for those traveling internationally to the US - travellers must both be vaccinated and be tested before entering. | Biden. said he doesn’t anticipate any more travel restrictions. Dr Anthony Fauci, Biden’s chief medical adviser, took to the podium to explain the stringent requirements already in place for those traveling internationally to the US - travellers must both be vaccinated and be tested before entering. |
| Biden said he does not anticipate the need for any future lockdowns. “If people are vaccinated and wear their masks, there won’t be a need for a lockdown,” he said. | Biden said he does not anticipate the need for any future lockdowns. “If people are vaccinated and wear their masks, there won’t be a need for a lockdown,” he said. |
| “In the event, hopefully unlikely, that updated vaccinations or boosters are needed to respond to this new variant, we will accelerate their development and deployment with every available tool. | “In the event, hopefully unlikely, that updated vaccinations or boosters are needed to respond to this new variant, we will accelerate their development and deployment with every available tool. |
| “We do not yet believe that additional measures will be needed. But so that we are prepared if needed, my team is already working with officials at Pfizer and Moderna and Johnson & Johnson to develop contingency plans for vaccines and boosters if needed. I will also direct the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control) to use the fastest process possible without cutting any corners for safekeeping to get vaccines approved and on the market as soon as possible if needed. | “We do not yet believe that additional measures will be needed. But so that we are prepared if needed, my team is already working with officials at Pfizer and Moderna and Johnson & Johnson to develop contingency plans for vaccines and boosters if needed. I will also direct the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control) to use the fastest process possible without cutting any corners for safekeeping to get vaccines approved and on the market as soon as possible if needed. |
| “I’m sparing no effort. I’m removing all road blocks to keep the American people safe.” | “I’m sparing no effort. I’m removing all road blocks to keep the American people safe.” |
| “If you are 18 years and older and got fully vaccinated before 1 June go get the get booster shot today,” Joe Biden said today. “They’re free and they’re available at 80,000 locations coast to coast. A fully vaccinated booster person is the most protected against Covid. | “If you are 18 years and older and got fully vaccinated before 1 June go get the get booster shot today,” Joe Biden said today. “They’re free and they’re available at 80,000 locations coast to coast. A fully vaccinated booster person is the most protected against Covid. |
| “Do not wait. Go get your booster if it’s time for you to do so. And if you are not vaccinated, now is the time to go get vaccinated and to bring your children to go get vaccinated.” | “Do not wait. Go get your booster if it’s time for you to do so. And if you are not vaccinated, now is the time to go get vaccinated and to bring your children to go get vaccinated.” |
| So far, no cases of the new omicron variant of Covid-19 have been reported in the US. But Biden said it’s only a matter of time. “Sooner or later, we are going to see new cases of this new variant here in the United States and we’re going to have to face this new threat just as we have faced the ones that came before it.” | So far, no cases of the new omicron variant of Covid-19 have been reported in the US. But Biden said it’s only a matter of time. “Sooner or later, we are going to see new cases of this new variant here in the United States and we’re going to have to face this new threat just as we have faced the ones that came before it.” |
| Joe Biden took to the podium to tell Americans that the new omicron variant of Covid-19 “is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic”. | Joe Biden took to the podium to tell Americans that the new omicron variant of Covid-19 “is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic”. |
| “We’ll fight this variant with scientific and knowledgeable actions and speed, not chaos and confusion,” he said. “We have more tools today to fight the variant than we ever had before, from vaccines to boosters, to vaccines for children.” | “We’ll fight this variant with scientific and knowledgeable actions and speed, not chaos and confusion,” he said. “We have more tools today to fight the variant than we ever had before, from vaccines to boosters, to vaccines for children.” |
| “A year ago, America was floundering against the first variant of Covid,” Biden continued. “We beat that variant significantly, and then we got hit by a far more powerful threat, the Delta variant. But we took action and now we’re seeing deaths from Delta come down. | “A year ago, America was floundering against the first variant of Covid,” Biden continued. “We beat that variant significantly, and then we got hit by a far more powerful threat, the Delta variant. But we took action and now we’re seeing deaths from Delta come down. |
| “Look, we’re going to fight and beat this new variant as well.” | “Look, we’re going to fight and beat this new variant as well.” |
| Joe Biden is expected to speak momentarily about the new omicron variant of Covid-19. | Joe Biden is expected to speak momentarily about the new omicron variant of Covid-19. |
| The Associated Press is reporting that the president is expected to urge Americans to get vaccinated - but not push for more restrictions - in the face of this new variant, of which there are no reported cases yet in the US. | The Associated Press is reporting that the president is expected to urge Americans to get vaccinated - but not push for more restrictions - in the face of this new variant, of which there are no reported cases yet in the US. |
| Democrat congressman Tom Suozzi has just announced that he will be running for governor of New York. | Democrat congressman Tom Suozzi has just announced that he will be running for governor of New York. |
| This is significant in that Suozzi is now the 18th Democrat in Congress to not seek reelection in 2022, putting at risk the very narrow majority that the left holds. | This is significant in that Suozzi is now the 18th Democrat in Congress to not seek reelection in 2022, putting at risk the very narrow majority that the left holds. |
| Actor Matthew McConaughey has officially announced that he will not be running for governor of Texas, a seat for which former Democratic congressman and candidate for Senate and president Beto O’Rourke is also vying. | Actor Matthew McConaughey has officially announced that he will not be running for governor of Texas, a seat for which former Democratic congressman and candidate for Senate and president Beto O’Rourke is also vying. |
| Read more about it here: | Read more about it here: |
| Tis the season for the White House to unveil its holiday decorations - a task that falls under the purview of first lady Jill Biden. | Tis the season for the White House to unveil its holiday decorations - a task that falls under the purview of first lady Jill Biden. |
| Rand Paul, a senator from Kentucky, has clashed publicly with Anthony Fauci over virus research carried out before the pandemic. Ted Cruz, from Texas, has said Fauci should be prosecuted regarding his handling of the Covid response. | Rand Paul, a senator from Kentucky, has clashed publicly with Anthony Fauci over virus research carried out before the pandemic. Ted Cruz, from Texas, has said Fauci should be prosecuted regarding his handling of the Covid response. |
| “Yeah,” Fauci told CBS in his Sunday interview. “I have to laugh at that. I should be prosecuted? What happened on 6 January, senator?” | “Yeah,” Fauci told CBS in his Sunday interview. “I have to laugh at that. I should be prosecuted? What happened on 6 January, senator?” |
| Cruz was among Republicans who voted to object to electoral college results in key states, even after Trump supporters mounted a deadly attack on the US Capitol. | Cruz was among Republicans who voted to object to electoral college results in key states, even after Trump supporters mounted a deadly attack on the US Capitol. |
| Asked if he was being made a scapegoat for Trump’s failings under Covid, Fauci said: “Of course, you have to be asleep not to figure that one out … That’s OK, I’m just going to do my job and I’m going to be saving lives and they’re going to be lying.” | Asked if he was being made a scapegoat for Trump’s failings under Covid, Fauci said: “Of course, you have to be asleep not to figure that one out … That’s OK, I’m just going to do my job and I’m going to be saving lives and they’re going to be lying.” |
| Playing politics with his role in the Covid response, Fauci said, was “unbelievably bad because all I want to do is save people’s lives. That’s what I have done for the last 50 years … | Playing politics with his role in the Covid response, Fauci said, was “unbelievably bad because all I want to do is save people’s lives. That’s what I have done for the last 50 years … |
| “I mean, anybody who’s looking at this carefully realises that there’s a distinct anti-science flavor to this. So if they get up and criticize science, nobody’s going to know what they’re talking about. But if they get up and really aim their bullets at Tony Fauci, well, people could recognize there’s a person there. There’s a face, there’s a voice you can recognize, you see him on television. | “I mean, anybody who’s looking at this carefully realises that there’s a distinct anti-science flavor to this. So if they get up and criticize science, nobody’s going to know what they’re talking about. But if they get up and really aim their bullets at Tony Fauci, well, people could recognize there’s a person there. There’s a face, there’s a voice you can recognize, you see him on television. |
| “So it’s easy to criticise, but they’re really criticising science because I represent science. That’s dangerous. To me, that’s more dangerous than the slings and the arrows that get thrown at me. | “So it’s easy to criticise, but they’re really criticising science because I represent science. That’s dangerous. To me, that’s more dangerous than the slings and the arrows that get thrown at me. |
| “I’m not going to be around here forever, but science is going to be here forever. And if you damage science, you are doing something very detrimental to society long after I leave. And that’s what I worry about.” | “I’m not going to be around here forever, but science is going to be here forever. And if you damage science, you are doing something very detrimental to society long after I leave. And that’s what I worry about.” |
| Here’s video of one memorable exchange between Paul and Fauci, from a Senate hearing in July: | Here’s video of one memorable exchange between Paul and Fauci, from a Senate hearing in July: |
| In an interview broadcast by CBS on Sunday, Dr Anthony Fauci had strong words for Republicans attacking him over his role in the federal coronavirus response. | In an interview broadcast by CBS on Sunday, Dr Anthony Fauci had strong words for Republicans attacking him over his role in the federal coronavirus response. |
| Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser has served seven presidents since 1984 and is now to the fore in preparations for the arrival of the Omicron coronavirus variant and efforts to increase vaccination against Covid-19. | Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser has served seven presidents since 1984 and is now to the fore in preparations for the arrival of the Omicron coronavirus variant and efforts to increase vaccination against Covid-19. |
| Under Donald Trump, Fauci was often at odds with his boss or attacked by him. He attracted death threats as well as the ire of Republicans in Congress. | Under Donald Trump, Fauci was often at odds with his boss or attacked by him. He attracted death threats as well as the ire of Republicans in Congress. |
| He told CBS: “I dealt with it by focusing on what my job is from the time that I went into medicine to right now. Where I am at my age” – nearly 81 – “my job has been totally focused on doing what I can with the talents and the influence I had to make scientific advances to protect the health of the American public. | He told CBS: “I dealt with it by focusing on what my job is from the time that I went into medicine to right now. Where I am at my age” – nearly 81 – “my job has been totally focused on doing what I can with the talents and the influence I had to make scientific advances to protect the health of the American public. |
| “So anybody who spins lies and threatens and all that theatre that goes on with some of the investigations and the congressional committees and the Rand Pauls and all that other nonsense … that’s noise. I know what my job is.” | “So anybody who spins lies and threatens and all that theatre that goes on with some of the investigations and the congressional committees and the Rand Pauls and all that other nonsense … that’s noise. I know what my job is.” |
| Punchbowl News, a Capitol Hill-focused outlet, is reporting that House leaders are ready to introduce a stopgap funding bill to extend government funding beyond the current deadline – Friday 3 December – through mid- to late January, with 21 January and 28 January the dates up for discussion. | Punchbowl News, a Capitol Hill-focused outlet, is reporting that House leaders are ready to introduce a stopgap funding bill to extend government funding beyond the current deadline – Friday 3 December – through mid- to late January, with 21 January and 28 January the dates up for discussion. |
| A floor vote could take place as early as Wednesday, but then Senate leaders will need an agreement to push the resolution through by Friday. | A floor vote could take place as early as Wednesday, but then Senate leaders will need an agreement to push the resolution through by Friday. |
| There is also the small matter of the debt limit, the arbitrary borrowing cap that is raised each year to prevent the US from defaulting on its debts – a move that would cause economic catastrophe across the globe. The treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, has said the US can meet its obligations till 15 December or so. | There is also the small matter of the debt limit, the arbitrary borrowing cap that is raised each year to prevent the US from defaulting on its debts – a move that would cause economic catastrophe across the globe. The treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, has said the US can meet its obligations till 15 December or so. |
| Punchbowl isn’t expecting the same high drama on the issue as October, when Biden bluffed on filibuster reform to get Republicans to move amid heated words from both sides. But the week’s still young. | Punchbowl isn’t expecting the same high drama on the issue as October, when Biden bluffed on filibuster reform to get Republicans to move amid heated words from both sides. But the week’s still young. |
| Republicans believe Democrats and Democrats alone should raise the debt limit, which would be fine if the Democrats held workable majorities in both the House and the Senate. Last time, the Republicans twice used their beloved filibuster to block efforts to raise the debt limit which required 60 votes. | Republicans believe Democrats and Democrats alone should raise the debt limit, which would be fine if the Democrats held workable majorities in both the House and the Senate. Last time, the Republicans twice used their beloved filibuster to block efforts to raise the debt limit which required 60 votes. |
| In October, Republicans wanted Democrats to raise the debt limit through budget reconciliation, a complicated process that neither Biden nor Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer were very keen on – in part because there are only so many times Congress can consider reconciliation bills each year. One has already gone to the Covid bill and the ambitious Build Back Better Act is now before the Senate. | In October, Republicans wanted Democrats to raise the debt limit through budget reconciliation, a complicated process that neither Biden nor Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer were very keen on – in part because there are only so many times Congress can consider reconciliation bills each year. One has already gone to the Covid bill and the ambitious Build Back Better Act is now before the Senate. |
| Last time out, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell eventually agreed to a short-term deal that increased the borrowing limit by $480bn – sufficient to prevent the government from defaulting by keeping debt payments up until mid-December. | Last time out, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell eventually agreed to a short-term deal that increased the borrowing limit by $480bn – sufficient to prevent the government from defaulting by keeping debt payments up until mid-December. |
| Which is quite soon, if not so soon as the deadline to fund government itself. | Which is quite soon, if not so soon as the deadline to fund government itself. |
| Ahoy there, live blog readers. Let’s strap in for the week, shall we? | Ahoy there, live blog readers. Let’s strap in for the week, shall we? |
| Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver remarks at the White House twice today. He’s sure to field questions about supposedly impending economic doom but the main purposes of the remarks will be the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant (first, at 11.45am ET) and issues with the supply chain (second, at 3.45pm ET). | Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver remarks at the White House twice today. He’s sure to field questions about supposedly impending economic doom but the main purposes of the remarks will be the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant (first, at 11.45am ET) and issues with the supply chain (second, at 3.45pm ET). |
| The World Health Organization said this morning Omicron is likely to spread internationally, posing a “very high” global risk where Covid-19 surges could have “severe consequences”. | The World Health Organization said this morning Omicron is likely to spread internationally, posing a “very high” global risk where Covid-19 surges could have “severe consequences”. |
| “Omicron has an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are concerning for their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic,” the WHO said. “The overall global risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron is assessed as very high.” | “Omicron has an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are concerning for their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic,” the WHO said. “The overall global risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron is assessed as very high.” |
| No cases have yet been reported in the US. Press secretary Jen Psaki is scheduled brief too, at 1pm ET. | No cases have yet been reported in the US. Press secretary Jen Psaki is scheduled brief too, at 1pm ET. |
| Congress has plenty on its plate too. We’re on the cusp of December, which for all those keeping score out there means it’s time to once again talk about the possibility of the federal government shutting down and/or disaster over the debt ceiling. | Congress has plenty on its plate too. We’re on the cusp of December, which for all those keeping score out there means it’s time to once again talk about the possibility of the federal government shutting down and/or disaster over the debt ceiling. |
| More to come. | More to come. |