The United States is celebrating its first unrestricted national holiday since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. On this occasion, US President Joe Biden greeted, Sunday, July 4, an America that has “Taken over” on Covid-19, while calling on his compatriots to be vaccinated against a virus that has not yet been “Defeated”.
July 4, which commemorates the declaration of independence of 1776, “Is a special celebration this year, because we are coming out of a dark year”, he said in front of a thousand guests at the White House. In a short and combative speech, the president assured: “We have never been so close to declaring our independence from the virus. “
“The Covid-19 has not yet been defeated”Joe Biden warned, however, as the rapid circulation of the Delta variant and low vaccination rates in some areas worry experts. Getting vaccinated is in these conditions “The most patriotic action there is”, he said in a speech which also celebrated the thunderous American economic recovery. “We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do if we do it together. “
Return of the festivities
On July 4, the Democratic President invited a thousand people to Washington, including caregivers, soldiers and other so-called workers. “Essential” for a barbecue and watch the traditional fireworks.
As the President spoke, many people were already thronging the length of The Mall, the famous plaza in downtown Washington, to get a front row seat to the fireworks.
To find relatives or get some fresh air, nearly 50 million Americans escaped for this extended weekend, barely less than in 2019, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
The celebrations could not be more classic, but unimaginable during the summer of 2020. A year ago, pandemic obliges, Joe Biden was campaigning for the presidential election by video, from his basement. Across the United States, parades and marching bands had been reduced to the bare minimum.
The country was also crossed by giant demonstrations against racism, sparked by the death of African-American George Floyd on May 25, 2020.
Failure of the target of 70% of the vaccinated population
With more than 33 million cases and 600,000 deaths, the United States has paid the heaviest price, but the vaccination campaign has effectively brought down the number of hospitalizations and deaths in recent months.
The reluctance of the youngest, the conservatives and part of the black minority in the face of vaccines, however, prevent definitively turning the page. Symbolically, they defeated Joe Biden’s target for July 4, namely a first dose administered to 70% of the adult population.
More seriously, the number of new cases of Covid-19 has not decreased since mid-June, when the Delta variant, very contagious, represents 35% of cases.
