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Biden Addresses Nation On His Administration's Plans To Combat Latest COVID Surge; COVID Surge Puts Several Professional Sports Leagues On Timeout; Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired December 21, 2021 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:32:03]

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: Any moment now, President Biden will address the nation about his administration's plans to combat the latest COVID surge.

He is expected to offer half a billion free at-home COVID test kits to any American who wants one, who requests one on a Web site. Again, we expect him to push the importance of vaccines, and especially boosters.

This new COVID surge has put several professional sports leagues out on a timeout.

The NHL deciding to pause the season until after Christmas. The NFL has had to postpone more games after more players tested positive. Dozens of players are currently in COVID protocols.

Brynn Gingras is following the latest for us.

Brynn, these NFL cancellations come amid its new policy of less testing, right?

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, for the NFL specifically. But like you say, Ana, it's been man down when it comes to the players and all the different teams in the professional leagues.

Look at the NFL, for example. More than 200 players on the COVID reserve list since last week. These teams are having to change up the COVID protocols quickly.

And the NFL is raising eyebrows because they are going to test less for the virus.

It's begging the question, is this the path forward for companies, for people for getting through the pandemic?

Experts are warning, not so fast on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GINGRAS (voice over): Packed stadiums, screaming fans, it seemed like the sports world was back in full swing.

But COVID-19 and the highly contagious Omicron variant proving to be team's toughest opponents yet, again, threatening sports schedules and forcing leagues to quickly pivot their protocols so seasons can stay on track.

DR. ALLEN SILLS, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, NFL: I think we can't apply 2020 solutions to the 2021 problems that we're having.

GINGRAS: The NFL making a controversial call over the weekend to only test vaccinated players, coaches and staff who were showing symptoms of COVID-19. It's a sharp shift from its previous protocols of requiring weekly testing.

SILLS: Testing is a tool. It's a tool that can offer us certain things but it has certain limitations. And I do think, as I said, have you to look at each era and each phase of the pandemic as to what the value of the testing is.

GINGRAS: League Commissioner Roger Goodell calling it a targeted testing plan. Some disagree.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: That is, I think, a terrible message of less testing for those communities in which these teams are pillars, and the role models for so many others.

GINGRAS: Under the new rules, unvaccinated players must still test daily. And high-risk players can opt out of the rest of the season without pay.

But the approach undoubtedly means asymptomatic cases will slip detection and the virus will potentially spread.

ZACH BINNEY, SPORTS EPIDEMIOLOGIST, EMORY UNIVERSITY: It was an admission by the NFL that they're not going to be able to completely contain the Omicron variant.

GINGRAS: The NFL essentially leaning on the fact that more than 94 percent of its players are fully vaccinated and, therefore, it says, likely safe from serious infection.

[14:35:06]

Adding in a memo, "Omicron appears to be a very different illness from the one that we first confronted in the spring of 2020."

BINNEY: I think that they are probably right as far as their people go. My concern is if everybody in the country makes that choice, you may see a whole lot of cases.

And even if only a very small percentage of them are severe, that can stress and overwhelm an already overtaxed health care system.

GINGRAS: The move comes just days after the league was forced to postpone three weekend games and sidelined dozens of players who tested positive at a crucial point in the season, just before playoffs.

ANNOUNCER: He scores!

GINGRAS: The NHL now temporarily pausing its season over Christmas. The hands-on approach coming after at least nine teams with surging COVID cases.

And the league already postponing all games that require teams crossing the U.S.-Canadian border.

ANNOUNCER: (INAUDIBLE)

GINGRAS: As for the NBA --

PATTY MILLS, BROOKLYN NETS PLAYER: As for NBA, we're kind of going day-by-day at the moment.

GINGRAS: -- so far, games have been postponed there, too. But the league is trying to soften blow for teams short on players because of positive cases by allowing replacement players to be added to their rosters.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: Let's bring in Brynn here.

Can the models be applied elsewhere?

GINGRAS: Ana, it's interesting. One of the experts I was talking to said they really can't fault the professional leagues because they are actually doing more than you would likely see in many businesses and certainly with individuals.

Because they are having testing, even, you know, varying degrees of that. They are requiring masks inside the facilities. They are -- they all have pretty high vaccination rates.

But, again, it's the fact they don't live in a bubble. The players still have to go home to families, some cases kids, those kids go to school.

And that's what health experts are saying is that this can spread even more. It's not exactly the right approach to take, at least at this time. So that one expert saying test, test, test.

Of course, we hope to hear more about that when the president speaks -- Ana?

CABRERA: Thank you so much, Brynn Gingras.

Democrats are trying to regroup after Senator Manchin's devastating blow to their Build Back Better plan. Can they get the agenda back on track in time for the midterms?

And why more Democrats are choosing to leave Congress, ahead.

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[14:42:01]

CABRERA: Tonight, Senate Democrats will caucus virtually. The big questions are, what's next with Build Back Better after Senator Manchin's decision not to support it?

Oh, let's go live to the White House. The president set to speak on COVID.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I promised when I got elected I'd always give it to you straight from the shoulder, the good, the bad, the truth.

So as we head into Christmas weekend, I want to answer your questions about the rising number of COVID cases, COVID-19 cases.

And I want to start by acknowledging how tired, worried and frustrated I know you are. I know how you're feeling. For many of you, this will be the first or even second Christmas where you look across the table, there will be an empty kitchen chair there.

Tens of millions have gotten sick. We've all experienced upheaval in our lives.

So while COVID has been a tough adversary, we've shown that we are tougher. Tougher because we have the power of science and vaccines that prevent illness and save lives.

And tougher because of our resolve, so that -- let me answer some questions that lay out the steps the vice-president and I are taking to prepare for the rising number of cases experts tell us we can expect in the weeks ahead.

First, how concerned should you be about Omicron, which is now the dominant variant in this country, and it happened so quickly?

The answer is straightforward. If you're not fully vaccinated, you have good reason to be concerned. You're at a high risk of getting sick. And if you get sick you're likely to spread it to others, including friends and family.

The unvaccinated have a significantly higher risk of ending up in a hospital or even dying. Almost everyone who has died from COVID-19 in the past many months has been unvaccinated. Unvaccinated.

If you're among the majority of Americans who are fully vaccinated, and especially if you got the booster shot, the third shot, you're much -- you have much, much less reason to worry. You have a high degree of protection against severe illness.

But because Omicron spreads so easily, we'll see some fully vaccinated people get COVID. Potentially, in large numbers.

There will be positive cases in every office. Even here in the White House among the vaccinated -- among the vaccinated from Omicron. But these cases are highly unlikely to lead to serious illness.

Vaccinated people who get COVID may get ill. But they're protected from severe illness and death. That's why you should still remain vigilant.

According to our doctors, even if you're fully vaccinated, you should wear a mask when indoors in public settings. Wearing a mask provides extra protection for you and those around you.

[14:44:59]

And I know some Americans are wondering if you can safely celebrate the holidays with your family and friends. And the answer is, yes, you can. If you and those you who celebrated with are vaccinated, particularly if you got your booster shot.

And if you are vaccinated and follow the precautions that we all know well, you should feel comfortable celebrating the Christmas holiday as you plan.. You know, you've done the right thing. Enjoy the holiday season.

And thanks to the progress on vaccinations, this fall we've gone from nearly 90 million adults in July who had not even started the vaccination process to fewer than 40 million today. Still too many. Down from 90 to 40.

All these people who have not been vaccinated, you have an obligation to yourselves, to your family, and quite frankly -- I know I'll be criticized for this -- to your country.

Get vaccinated now. It's free. It's convenient. I promise you, it saves lives. And I honest to god believe it's your patriotic duty.

Another question folks are asking is, what can you do to make yourself and your family feel safer and be safer? The answer is simple. Get your booster shot. Wear a mask.

Our doctors made it clear. Booster shots provide the strongest protection.

Unfortunately, we still have tens of millions of people eligible for the booster shot but have not yet gotten it. Gotten the first two shots. But they've not gotten the booster.

Folks, the booster shots are free and widely available. Over 60 million Americans, including 62 percent of eligible seniors, our most vulnerable, have gotten their booster shots.

I got my booster shot as soon as they were available. And just the other day, former President Trump announced he got his booster shot. Maybe one of the few things he and I agree on.

People with booster shots are highly protected. Join them. Join us.

It's been six months or more since my second shot. If it's been six months or more from your second shot for your booster, you can get yours today. If you're six months or more since the second shot.

Another question folks are asking, is are we going back to March 2020? Not this last March 2021, but March 2020 when the pandemic first hit? And that's what I keep getting asked. The answer is absolutely no, no.

Here are three big differences between then and now.

One, number one, first one, more than 200 million Americans have been fully vaccinated. And in March 2020, no one was fully vaccinated.

What that means is, today, as cases -- a case of COVID-19 for fully vaccinated and a boosted person will most likely mean no symptoms or mild ones similar to the common respiratory virus.

Over 200 million Americans should have the peace of mind they didn't have in March 2020. They are protected from hospitalizations and they're protected from death.

Second point. We're prepared today for what's coming.

In March of 2020, we were not ready. Today, we stockpiled enough gowns, masks and ventilators to deal with the surge of hospitalizations among the unvaccinated. Today, we are ready.

And as I'll explain in a few minutes, we're going to be reinforcing our hospitals, helping them.

Number three. We know a lot more today than we did back in March of 2020. For example, last year. we thought the only way to keep your children safe was to close your -- close our schools.

Today, we know more and we have more resources to keep those schools open. You can get 5-to-11-year-olds vaccinated. We didn't have that until last month.

Today, we don't have to shut down schools because of a case of COVID- 19.

Now if a student tests positive, other students can take the test and stay in the classroom if they are not infected rather than cross closing the whole school or having to quarantine.

We can keep our K-through-12 schools open. That's exactly what we should be doing.

So, folks, let me summarize. We should all be concerned about Omicron but not panicked. If you're fully vaccinated, and especially if you got your booster shot, you are highly protected.

And if you're unvaccinated, you're at a higher risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19, getting hospitalized, and even dying.

So the best thing to do is get fully vaccinated and get your booster shot.

And, no, this is not March of 2020. Two-hundred million people are fully vaccinated. We're prepared. We know more. We just have to stay focused. So that's where we stand.

[14:50:13]

Now, let me tell you about the additional steps I'm ordering today to take on what is coming. I know you've heard a lot of this in the news already this morning.

Three weeks ago, I laid out a COVID-19 action plan for this winter that prepared us for this moment. Today, we're making the plan even stronger.

First, we're setting up our vaccination and booster efforts. We're stepping it up significantly.

In the past two weeks, we've seen the highest vaccination rates since last spring. And we aren't as vaccinated as a country as we should be.

That's why we have added 10,000 new vaccination sites on top of the 80,000 sites that we already had in place. And even more will open in January.

I know there's some parts of this country where people are very eager to get their booster, where it's harder to get an appointment.

So starting this week, I'll be deploying hundreds more vaccinators and more sites to help get the booster shots in people's arms.

I've ordered FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to stand up new pop-up vaccination clinics all across the country where you can get that booster shot.

We've opened -- excuse me -- we've opened FEMA vaccination sites in Washington State and New Mexico recently as cases have increased.

And today, I'm directing FEMA to stand up new sites in areas where there's a high demand.

These steps are going to help us add more and more booster appointments just over the next few weeks.

I also want to say a word to parents. If your children are not vaccinated, please get them vaccinated.

If you're a parent, understandably, who waited to see how the first shots went with other kids before getting your own kid vaccinated, you can stop waiting. Six million children in our country, ages 5 to 11, are vaccinated.

Get your children protected today now.

For those parents out there who have a child that's too young to be vaccinated, that is under the age of 5, I know this can still be a scary time.

But one thing, one thing you can and must do while we await vaccines for children under 5, get yourself fully vaccinated and boosted, as well as those around you, your children, your caregivers, your siblings.

It's critical to mask up in public indoor places.

We know that our youngest children have not really been impacted by serious COVID-19 cases but they can be further protected if they're surrounded by vaccinated people.

And again, to folks who are not vaccinated, you may think you're putting only yourself at risk, but it's your choice.

Your choice is not just a choice about you. It affects other people. You're putting other people at risk, your loved ones, your friends, neighbors, strangers you run into.

And your choice can be the difference between life or death. The longer the virus is around, the more likely variants form. They may be deadlier than the ones that have come before.

Let me say again and again and again, please get vaccinated. It's the only responsible thing to do.

Those who are not vaccinated are causing hospitals to become overrun again.

I just spoke to the governor of New York. Every COVID-19 hospital means someone with a heart attack, cancer, or other serious illness may not get that bed and that lifesaving care they need in the hospital.

Look, let me give it to you straight again. Omicron is serious, potentially deadly business for unvaccinated people.

Let me be clear, thanks to the prior administration and our scientific community, America is one of the first countries to get the vaccine.

Thanks to my administration and the hard work of Americans, we led a rollout that made America among the world leaders in getting shots in arms.

But uptake slowed this summer as vaccine resistance among some hardened.

Look, the unvaccinated are responsible for their own choices. But those choices have been fueled by dangerous misinformation on cable TV and social media.

[14:54:58]

You know, these companies and personalities are making money by peddling lies and allowing misinformation that can kill their own customers and their own supporters. It's wrong. It's immoral.

I call on the purveyors of these lies and misinformation to stop it, stop it now.

One of the other things that we know that has to be done is more testing because Omicron spreads easily, especially among the unvaccinated.

It's critically important that we know who's infected. That means we need more testing.

On that score, we're now where we should be. Yes, we have over 20,000 free testing sites.

Yes, we've used the Defense Production Act, and spent $3 billion to greatly expand the number of at-home tests available for purchase online and at your local pharmacy.

And, yes, we made sure insurance covers the PCR tests you get in the hospital or at your doctor's office.

Starting next month, private insurance will also cover at-home testing so you can order a test online and get reimbursed.

We're providing access to free at-home tests for those who may have insurance as well, may not have insurance, I should say, as well.

But it's not enough. We have to do more. We have to do better. And we will.

Starting this week, the federal government will set up emergency testing sites in areas that need additional testing capacity.

Before Christmas, the first several of these federal testing sites will be up and running in New York City with many more to come.

This free testing is going to help reduce the waiting lines, the time we have to stand there, and sometimes it's an hour or more.

We're going to continue to add federal testing sites wherein needed. So if you want an immediate test, there will be a place where you can go get it.

We also need to do better with at-home testing. I'm announcing today that the federal government will purchase one-half billion -- that's not million but billion with a B -- additional at-home rapid tests with deliveries starting in January.

We'll begin giving these tests to Americans for free. And we'll have Web sites where you can get them delivered to your home.

We have arranged for it to be easier for you to find free COVID testing site near you on Google. Just enter "COVID tests near me" in the Google search bar, and you can find a number of different locations nearby where you can get tested.

We're going to continue to use the Defense Production Act, as we did earlier this month, to make sure we're producing as many tests and as quickly as possible.

The bottom line is it's a lot better than it was. We're taking even more steps to make it easier to get tested and to get tested for free. Next, we're preparing hospitals for what's coming. Those 40

unvaccinated adults have a good chance of getting COVID-19. And some of you will get very sick.

That will mean hospitals are going to get extremely stressed, extremely stressed, both in terms of equipment as well as personnel to care for those who get sick.

That's why my administration has stockpiled and prepositioned millions of gowns, gloves, masks and ventilators, PPP, ready to send them immediately to any state that needs more.

In addition, I have directed the Pentagon to mobilize an additional 1,000 troops to be deployed to help staff local hospitals and expand capacity. That's 1,000 military doctors, nurses and medics.

We have already started moving military -- excuse me -- medical teams. They've already landed in Wisconsin and Indiana this week. This is on top of 300 federal medical personnel that are now on the ground, having deployed since we learned about Omicron.

Look, while we know staffing is the biggest need for hospitals, some may need more beds as well.

We're prepared. I've directed FEMA to activate the National Response Center and begin deploying teams now to provide additional hospital beds.

We'll begin to construct emergency capacities near hospitals in parking garages, in nearby buildings to be ready if needed. And the federal government is paying for all of this, period. All of it.

[14:59:49]

Further, FEMA will deploy hundreds of ambulances and EMS crews, so that if one hospital fills up, we can transport patients to beds elsewhere.

This week, we'll send dozens of ambulances to New York and Maine because the COVID is spreading very rapidly to help transport patients.