WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden plans to mark the first anniversary of the country’s initial shutdown due to the coronavirus by addressing Americans next March, two White House officials told NBC News.

The idea is that Biden would reflect on the difficulties that the country has been through since March 11, 2020, the day the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic.

While Biden intends to give meaningful recognition to the sacrifices Americans have made, he will also describe how he sees the way forward, authorities said.

“You will recognize how far we have come,” said a White House official. Authorities said there are plans to do so on or around March 11.

As of this Wednesday, the number of coronavirus cases in the US was approaching 28 million and the number of deaths caused by the pandemic is more than 490,000. About 55 million doses of the vaccine have also been administered. Biden promised this week that all Americans eligible to receive the vaccine should be able to do so by the end of July.

White House officials said they are specifically discussing what Biden could do to mark the first anniversary of the country’s shutdown, even if it is simply a speech or a larger event and if it takes place in Washington or elsewhere in the world. country.

The Texas Department of Health Services asks vaccine providers to ensure refrigeration and proper storage of vaccines due to the controlled blackouts that have occurred throughout the state.

Biden, a month into his presidency, is making his first official trip outside of Washington this week with a trip to Wisconsin on Tuesday and one to Michigan planned for Friday.

During a CNN town hall in Milwaukee, he gave his vision of when life could return to normal in the country.

“By next Christmas I think we will be in a very different circumstance God willing than we are today,” Biden said. “Within a year I think there will be significantly fewer people who will have to be socially distanced, have to wear a mask, but we don’t know. So I don’t want to over-promise here. ”

Categorized in: