Biden Says He Wants K-8 Schools Open Five Days a Week

Less than a month into the Biden administration the president made it painfully clear that he cares more about retaining the support of teachers' unions than he does about the future and education of America's children. He took questions from a small audience of Democrats, Republicans and independents invited for a small, socially distant gathering at the historic Pabst Theater. The virus has killed more than 485,000, and newly emerging variants are complicating the response effort. "By the end of July, we'll have over 600 million doses, enough to vaccinate every single American". Comforting a second-grader who hasn't been able to go school and was anxious about getting the virus, Biden told the girl that children are less likely to get infected, adding, "I wouldn't worry about it, baby, I promise you".

Biden agreed that the process of signing up to be vaccinated was confusing. "But because sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school - they socialize a lot more and transmit more than young kids do, so it's harder to get those schools open, without having everything from ventilation systems" to less crowded school buses.

With the Biden administration, it's not science that matters - it's the politics.

But many GOP lawmakers continue to bristle at the price tag of a package that calls for sending $1,400 checks to most Americans as well as assistance for businesses, schools and homeowners and renters.

"That will help unify our party", McConnell said.

"I recognize that the decision, on when and how to begin in-person learning is one that must be based on a thorough review of what the science tells us works and an understanding of the lived experiences, challenges, and perspectives of teachers and school staff, parents, and students", Walensky said in a COVID-19 update on Friday. Mr. Biden said it's "totally different" from the Vice-President's residence, set on 80 acres and offering ample room to swim, explore and exercise in greater privacy.

When asked how schools could reopen when most are located in "red zones" of high community transmission, where the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended more-limited reopenings, Ms. Harris said: "What they have recommended are exactly that-recommendations about how to reopen safely if they've been closed, how to stay open if they've been opened".

Psaki said, "I'm not sure what numbers Sen".

The White House was then given two more chances Wednesday morning to subscribe to this guidance. In addition to his visit to Milwaukee, Biden is to travel to MI on Thursday to visit a Pfizer vaccine manufacturing facility.

"We have over a thousand military personnel. we have gotten the National Guard engaged. plus we have opened up a considerable amount of locations where you can get the vaccine", he said.

The trip also comes just three days after the Senate acquitted Trump in his second impeachment trial. Biden said little about Trump before and during the trial, insisting he wanted to let the Senate to do its job. The president on his first day in office extended the moratorium on foreclosures, first issued by Trump, until the end of March.