In response to President Joe Biden’s implementation of additional travel restrictions from Europe, South Africa, and Brazil in an effort to combat new coronavirus variants, Protect Our Care’s Coronavirus War Room Director Zac Petkanas released the following statement:
“President Joe Biden’s announcement that he is instituting travel restrictions in an effort to constrain new coronavirus variants that are popping up around the world shows how decisively his administration is moving on their COVID response.
“These measures are only the latest efforts by the incoming Biden Administration to contain the virus, which so far have included mandating masks on public transportation; using wartime powers to require U.S. companies to make N95 masks, swabs and other equipment; and directing FEMA to set up 100 community vaccination centers in the next month.
“While these measures are important, it will take broader action from Congress to fully combat this crisis that Donald Trump left on the Biden Administration’s doorstep.
“They must immediately move to pass Biden’s comprehensive American Rescue Plan which includes direct stimulus checks to families, state and local aid to keep essential workers on the job, funding for sequencing of emerging strains like what we’re seeing in Europe and elsewhere, and funding for effective nationwide vaccine distribution and testing plans.
“If Congress doesn’t pass it, then they’re choosing to allow our economy to tank and refusing to save lives by getting this pandemic under control.”