WHITE HOUSE COVID RESPONSE TEAM

The White House COVID Response Team said health officials are working to give booster shots to immunocompromised individuals “as quickly as possible.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a briefing with the coronavirus task force at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON – The White House COVID-19 response team held a news briefing on Wednesday morning to provide an update on the nation’s pandemic. The briefing comes as states begin lifting virus restrictions as COVID vaccinations ramp up, and as some states -- like Michigan, New York and New Jersey -- experience another surge in virus spread. The nation has also just cleared President Biden’s goal of administering 100 million vaccinations within his first 100 days in office. President Biden is also assembling the next big White House priority, a sweeping $3 trillion package of investments on infrastructure and domestic needs.

DETROIT – On Monday, the White House COVID Response Team talked about efforts to keep case numbers moving in the right direction. Facing that reality, the White House says it is critical to get vaccines sidelined by the winter weather back on track. That study looked at nine COVID clusters involving 13 teachers and 32 students at six elementary schools in Georgia. “The two main reasons for spread of COVID-19 in these schools were inadequate physical distancing and mask adherence. For example, when students weren’t wearing masks or wearing them poorly, the virus was able to spread more easily because there wasn’t sufficient distancing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Biden administration announced it plans to use the Defense Production Act to assist in the battle against coronavirus. The Defense Production Act was also used by the Trump administration early in the pandemic to increase the production of ventilators. During a Friday press conference, the White House COVID Response Team revealed details about how the act will be used to aid in three key areas. He said the Defense Production Act will be used to prioritize getting critical supplies for Pfizer, including more filling pumps. The act will also be used to help six suppliers make at-home and point-of-care COVID tests.