President Biden warns of 'dark winter' for those who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19
President Joe Biden urged all Americans to get their booster shots, warning of a winter of "severe illness and death" for those who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
"I want to send a direct message to the American people: Because of the steps we've taken, Omicron is not spreading as fast as it could be, but it's here, it's spreading, and it's going to increase," CNN quoted Biden as saying at a White House press briefing on the situation.Covid-19. "We are going to see a winter of severe illness and death for those who have not been vaccinated – for them, for their families and for hospitals...".
"But there is good news: If you've been vaccinated and received a booster shot, you are protected from severe illness and death," the US President affirmed.
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| US President Joe Biden. |
Mr. Biden urged individuals to get vaccinated to protect the nation's economic recovery.
"We're going to protect the economic recovery. If we do that, we're going to keep schools open and businesses open… And I want to see everybody enjoy that. I want to see them enjoy the fact that they can be in school, that businesses are open and that the holidays are coming," the White House chief added.
As of December 14, 1 in 6 Americans had been fully vaccinated and had received a booster shot against Covid-19. That means many people are still at risk of contracting the virus, especially as the Omicron variant spreads at a rapid pace.
According to the latest forecast from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 in the country could increase to an unprecedented level in the coming weeks, while the number of new infections and deaths could be as high as during the outbreak last winter.
