Scientists urge the Biden administration to require N95 masks in excessive danger workplaces

A traveler wearing a face mask is seen at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia on February 2, 2021.

Ting Shen | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images

More than a dozen top scientists are calling on the Biden administration to demand N95 air filter masks for employees in high-risk workplaces such as meat packers and prisons.

The 13 scientists, including several who advised President Joe Biden during the transition on the pandemic, urged the government to acknowledge that the virus is more in the air than previously thought, especially with the emergence of more contagious variants. The highly effective masks filter out around 95% of all small particles.

The group, which includes David Michaels, an epidemiologist at George Washington University who headed the Occupational Safety and Health Agency under President Barack Obama, also called on OSHA to issue new standards that require improved ventilation in high-risk workplaces.

“The guidelines and recommendations of the CDC do not contain the control measures necessary to protect the public and workers from inhalation exposure to SARS-CoV-2,” the authors wrote in a letter sent on Monday to the White House response coordinator, Covid -19, Jeff Zients. The letter was also sent to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House chief physician, was sent.

“Failure to address inhalation exposure to SARS-CoV-2 continues to place workers and the public at serious risk of infection,” the authors continued. “People of color, many of whom are frontline jobs in important jobs, have suffered and continue to suffer from the greatest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Federal and international health authorities, including the World Health Organization, have been slow to recognize evidence that the coronavirus can spread efficiently through the air. Only in the summer did the WHO admit that air spread cannot be ruled out after more than 200 scientists asked the agency to do so.

For its part, the CDC has apparently recognized the importance of airborne preventive measures in recent weeks, such as tight-fitting masks for the public. On Friday, the CDC issued a guide on how to reopen new schools, but only addressed the importance of ventilation, saying schools should open windows and doors whenever possible. Some doctors said it should have highlighted the importance of portable air filters or improved HVAC systems in schools.

In the letter sent on Monday, the group of scientists outlined the evidence of airborne spread of the virus, pointing to other countries, such as Germany and France, which have mandated higher quality masks for workers and recommended improved indoor ventilation. They said the current guidelines from the CDC and other agencies are “out of date” and need to be updated urgently as new, more contagious variants threaten.

CDC spokesman Jason McDonald said in a statement that the agency stands by its current masking recommendations. However, he admitted that “there is evidence that we have room for improvement”.

He said that well-fitting surgical or cloth masks are appropriate for general use and that the CDC is working to “increase the acceptance of masking, ensure that masks are used consistently and correctly, and that masks fit the face well when worn”.

“For reasons backed by science, convenience, cost, and practicality, CDC does not recommend the use of N95 respirators to protect the public against COVID-19,” he said. McDonald did not elaborate on whether to wear N95 masks in high-risk workplaces where documented outbreaks such as meat packaging lines have occurred.

The scientists said the CDC and OSHA should mandate the use of N95 masks in risky workplaces. Currently, the CDC is recommending less effective surgical masks to most healthcare workers due to the lack of N95 masks. But the scientists said there is now an increased supply of N95 masks and it is time for CDC and OSHA to mandate their use in hazardous environments where workers could be exposed to coronavirus aerosols.

On his first full day in office, Biden directed OSHA to issue emergency standards for Covid-19 by March 15, which should include rules for ventilation and masks.

“Stricter protective measures are immediately required to limit the exposure and transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and to control and end the COVID-19 pandemic,” the scientists wrote to the administration. “Measures are needed to better protect workers and the public from being inhaled by the virus.”

In response to the CDC director, the US should include Covid earlier than variants catch on and make the pandemic worse

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, selected as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during an event at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., Tuesday, December 8, 2020.

Susan Walsh | AP

The United States needs to swiftly deploy Covid-19 vaccines and step up its surveillance before highly contagious variants set in or the virus mutates again and makes the pandemic worse, said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on Wednesday.

Three variants, first identified in the UK, South Africa and Brazil, have caused researchers some concern, according to a research suggestion shared with White House Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anthony Fauci. A CDC study published in January warned that variant B.1.1.7 found in the UK is expected to be the dominant strain in the US by March.

Variant B.1.1.7 has been shown to be highly transmissible, and “preliminary data suggest the possibility of increased disease severity with infection,” wrote Walensky, Fauci and Dr. Henry Walke, CDC’s Covid Incident Manager, in the position published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association or JAMA.

Walensky told JAMA in a separate interview on Wednesday that the variant is believed to be about 50% more transmissible than previous strains, and early data suggests it could be up to 50% more virulent or deadly.

“Model data has shown how a more contagious variant like B.1.1.7 has the potential to exacerbate the US pandemic trajectory and reverse the current downward trend in new infections and further delay control of the pandemic,” Walensky said in the newspaper .

The rise of the variants

So far, the USA has identified at least 1,277 Covid 19 cases with variant B.1.1.7 from Great Britain, 19 of variant B.1.351 discovered in South Africa and three cases of variant P.1 identified in Brazil according to the latest data from the CDC.

Monitoring of the variants in a commercial laboratory in early February suggests that the prevalence of the B.1.1.7 variant is likely to be 1% nationwide, although the prevalence could exceed 2% in some states, according to the paper.

However, the more the virus circulates and infects other people, the more likely it is that it will mutate. This is one of the reasons global health experts have urged public health measures such as social distancing, frequent hand washing and wearing of masks to be doubled until vaccines can be used and the population can achieve what is known as herd immunity.

A virus that spreads faster would also mean more people would need to be vaccinated to build an umbrella of immunity, experts have said. In the US, the levels of virus spread in the community must be “aggressively reduced” and Americans should postpone travel and avoid crowds to ensure the variants do not spread further, the leading federal health officials wrote in their view.

“The more they mutate, the more likely we’ll see dominant variants that really show up and could become a problem for us,” Walensky told JAMA. “The best we can do to prevent this from happening in general is to have fewer diseases circulating and fewer viruses circulating.”

Speed ​​up vaccinations

The US needs to accelerate the pace of vaccination to “reduce transmission, and therefore the virus replication that creates opportunities for the variants in question,” especially where the virus is spreading fastest, the officials said.

Early data suggests that the B.1.351 variant, first found in South Africa, may be able to escape the natural immunity acquired by people recovering from the Covid-19 variant. “

The problem is not limited to the US. So far, countries that have been able to introduce vaccines for their populations have mostly been in higher-income countries that have supply agreements with the pharmaceutical companies.

“If viruses are still circulating in large quantities in other countries and other parts of the world … they will continue to pose a threat to us because those variants will in fact continue to threaten whether our vaccines will continue to work. So that is it.” a global problem, “said Walensky.

Monitoring is missing

The nation’s response should not only cover the variants found in the UK, South Africa and Brazil, but also be prepared to recognize mutations that can occur domestically, Walensky said.

The country’s infrastructure for carrying out “genome sequence monitoring” for the variants in the USA has not been sufficiently prepared to detect the circulating strains.

The CDC has partnered with public health and trade laboratories to rapidly improve genome sequencing in the country. In January, the US sequenced only 250 samples per week for the variants, which have since grown “by the thousands,” Walensky said. However, she added that “we are not where we need to be”.

“It’s going to be a dial, not a switch, and we’ll have to choose it,” said Walensky.

Candice Patton is “Preventing the Good Struggle” for the illustration of blacks

Candice Patton fights injustices both on and off the screen.

The actress, who portrays reporter Iris West on The CW’s The Flash, prides itself on portraying a character who always “fights for what is right”.

In her real life, Candice uses her platform to advocate better representation of black women in Hollywood. “I’ve never been a person who could keep my mouth closed for too long, especially when it comes to injustice,” she tells E! News for our “Ones to Watch” series during Black History Month.

She says she wants to make a difference in the entertainment industry, even if it feels “unsafe” to “push” for inclusivity.

Her role, which was originally white in the comics, has been reinterpreted as an African American for the small screen. But, Candice explains, casting a non-white actor is not good enough if you really want to make a difference.

US pays WHO greater than $ 200 million in membership charges that Trump has withheld

Newly confirmed Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to reporters during his first press conference at the State Department in Washington on January 27, 2021.

Carlos Barria | Reuters

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the United States will pay the World Health Organization the more than $ 200 million by the end of the month, reaffirming the new administration’s commitment to global health.

“This is an important step forward in fulfilling our financial commitments as a WHO member and reflects our renewed commitment to ensuring that WHO receives the support it needs to lead the global response to the pandemic, even as we do work to reform them for the future. ” “Blinken told the UN Security Council during a video conference.

“The United States will work with our partners around the world to expand production and distribution capabilities and improve access, including marginalized populations,” said Blinken in his first speech since being named the country’s best diplomat.

Blinken also urged his colleagues to combat misinformation about vaccines and to pass on relevant information about the origin of the coronavirus to investigators.

“The ongoing expert inquiry into the causes of this pandemic and the report that will be published must be independent of scientific and fact-based evidence and free from interference,” said Blinken. “To better understand this pandemic and prepare for the next one, all countries must provide all data from the earliest days of the outbreak,” he added.

Blinken’s remarks come as President Joe Biden works to tackle the unfolding coronavirus pandemic that killed more than 2.4 million people and infected more than 109.6 million worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the United States, the coronavirus has infected more than 27.7 million people and killed at least 488,295 people.

In one of his first acts as president, Biden overturned former President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Geneva-based health organization of the United Nations.

In April, Trump said he had suspended US funding for the organization pending a review, citing what he described as “the World Health Organization’s role in the serious mismanagement and cover-up of the spread of the coronavirus”.

A month later, he announced his intention to remove the US from the organization amid the coronavirus pandemic, citing the so-called misuse of funding by the WHO and its cozy relationship with China.

“China is in total control of the World Health Organization even though it only pays $ 40 million a year, compared to what the United States paid, which is roughly $ 450 million a year,” Trump said.

In July, the Trump administration sent the UN Secretary-General its notice to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization by July 6, 2021.

In October, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he hoped the United States would reconsider its decision to leave WHO, adding that the coronavirus could not be defeated “in a divided world”.

“The problem is not the money. It is not the funding that is the problem. It is actually the relationship with the US that is more important and its overseas leadership,” Ghebreyesus told a virtual audience at the Aspen Security Forum.

Driver, who allegedly killed Nicki Minaj’s father Robert Maraj in an accident, surrenders to police

Nicki Minaj

TSR Updatez: Roommate, we were saddened that Nicki Minaj’s father, Robert Maraj, was hit and killed in an accident on Friday. However, it is now reported that the man who allegedly hit Maraj has reported to police.

According to page 6, the man, who has not yet been identified at the time, reported to the authorities on Wednesday morning. As we previously reported, Robert Maraj was hit by a car in Mineola, New York, and unfortunately the driver fled the scene.

Maraj was taken to a local hospital and was in critical condition for some time before succumbing to his injuries and dying. Robert Maraj was 64 years old.

As we previously reported, Nicki lives in the bliss of a new mother when she recently gave birth to her baby boy, whom we know as Papa Bear. Nicki finally let us see her little one in January, and his photos definitely set the gram on fire.

Nicki has not yet commented on the tragedy, but we ask that you keep her and your loved ones in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time, Roomies.

Would you like updates directly in your text inbox? Contact us at 917-722-8057 or https://my.community.com/theshaderoom

The franchise trade expects a rebound when Covid is beneath management

A worker puts hot peppers on a pizza in a Domino’s pizza franchise in New York.

Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images

After a year of business closings, disruptions and unprecedented challenges, the franchise industry is poised to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, if Covid-19 is controlled, according to an upcoming report.

In its annual economic outlook, the International Franchise Association estimates that more than 26,000 franchise locations will be added, an increase of 3.5% for more than 780,000 establishments. The additions would help offset the declines seen over the past year.

In addition, franchise employment is expected to grow more than 10% to nearly 8.3 million workers, the group said. It added that of the nearly 800,000 new jobs expected, many will be in the retail, food and services sectors.

The IFA forecast produced by the research and consulting firm FRANdata assumes that the gross domestic product of the sector will increase by 7% to USD 477.4 billion and the production of the franchise business will increase by 16.4% to USD 780 billion which will also make up for last year’s losses. In 2020, the franchise lost approximately 20,000 units and saw employment fall 11.2% to 7.5 million workers due to losses in housing, full-service restaurants, and personal services.

“With rapid adaptability, scalable technology, and a focus on products and services in demand, the franchise sector has demonstrated its resilience time and again. Coupled with smart Washington policies, franchises can help Americans get back to work.” Robert Cresanti, President and CEO of IFA, told CNBC in a statement.

Most of the growth this year will come from the commercial and residential service industries, along with the continued strength of the quick service restaurant category that got a boost last year. The strength of the rebound will depend on a number of factors including pandemic control, the launch of the vaccine, and pent-up consumer demand.

“It’s important to understand that once everyone gets the green light, there won’t be just this explosive growth,” said Darrell Johnson, FRANdata CEO. “The world has changed and, in some ways, consumer behavior has changed significantly so that it is a different growth.”

As an example, Johnson cited the huge growth in home delivery and roadside pickup in fast food restaurants. He said these services were “forced into the equation” because it was the only way consumers could buy products.

The industry’s recovery also depends on government measures to support both small businesses and the economy as a whole.

President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion stimulus plan includes aid to small businesses in the form of grants and funding, and direct controls on individuals. Congress Democrats are also working to allocate $ 25 billion specifically for restaurants.

The Paycheck Protection Program has been a lifeline for many small businesses who have had access to finance. The Small Business Administration reported that just under 1.7 million loans for nearly $ 126 billion had been approved as of February 15.

The average loan was $ 75,000 as smaller businesses have access to grants, but 1.17 million were second draw loans for those who received help at the beginning of the cycle and are back on the program.

According to the IFA report, almost half of all franchisees are operators with one or two units. These include a number of minority-owned companies as well as companies that operate in underserved communities. Help is important as these small businesses are at greatest risk of closure.

“There are companies that benefited from the first round of PPP that kept them alive. They got a second round of PPP because they were really still injured, and that’s why they were kept alive. The question What is the long-term forecast for these companies? “said Johnson. “And therein lies the puzzle for policy makers.”

Another factor driving the recovery is government policies such as raising the federal minimum wage, according to the report. The IFA warned of Biden’s plan to raise the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour by 2025, warning that doing so could slow the recovery and lead to more automation.

The National Restaurant Association released data reflecting that assessment Tuesday. 82% of operators expect any initial wage increases to affect recovery from Covid-19.

“Passing this bill this year would result in job losses and increased use of labor-reducing equipment and technology,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs for the restaurant trade group, in a statement. “Almost all restaurant operators say they will raise menu prices, but it is clear that an increase in consumer prices is not enough to absorb higher labor costs.”

Methods to cease hackers focusing on Covid-19 vaccinations

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

Sergio Perez | Reuters

The Covid-19 vaccine has been a constant target for cyber criminals from creation to deployment. In December 2020, it was reported that hackers were accessing vital vaccine data through the systems of a European regulator. More recently, it has been known that documents accessed in this violation were tampered with before being posted on the dark internet, raising concerns about how they might be used in the future.

These incidents highlight the threat cyberattacks against Covid-19 could pose to the public, but the risks don’t stop there. Researchers have already discovered ongoing campaigns aimed at exploiting people seeking access to the vaccine and even personal information being sold on the internet.

According to the latest data, an estimated 239.4 million cyberattacks were targeted against VMware Carbon Black healthcare customers in the past year. We also found an average of 816 attempted attacks per endpoint in 2020, an increase of 9,851% from 2019. In order to minimize disruption to the healthcare industry, and especially to the use of the vaccine by malicious actors, we all need to be aware of the tactics and threats that currently exist and the steps we can take to keep ourselves and others safe from cyberattacks protect.

Weak links in the vaccine distribution chain

When we look at the cyberthreats the Covid-19 vaccine supply chain is facing, it helps to divide the conversation into two distinct areas: those who make, distribute, and track the vaccine, and those who receive it . The healthcare industry is naturally responsible for introducing the vaccine. Research has consistently shown that healthcare remains one of the most targeted and vulnerable industries to cyberattack because of the sensitivity and value of the data used and the difficulty of securing the disparate systems on which it operates. The increased concentration of hackers in this sector because of the vaccine has only compounded this problem.

With vaccines up and running around the world, organizations involved in registration and distribution tracking should be a primary target for cyber criminals. Hackers will target intrusion efforts at these institutions in order to access the valuable personal information they need to collect from customers and constituents. In addition to finding data to be sold on the internet to make money, we can also expect violations to have the more destructive goal (in line with recent trends) of disrupting the vaccine distribution chain and making the vaccine available to those too slow down who need it.

Patient attacked

For people seeking the vaccine, the cyber threat will take a different form. We have already seen a number of attacks on those waiting in line for the highly anticipated vaccine. These threats have come in the form of waterhole attacks, where unsuspecting victims are directed to a phishing website or portals and asked to enter sensitive information which then gets straight into the hands of hackers. From there, the hackers take the data for sale in dark web forums and promise the highest bidder account breaches and identity theft.

An example of one of these waterhole attacks was recently shared on Twitter by a security researcher. The fake website, which is aimed at users in Turkey, instructs users to download an application to apply for a vaccine. In reality, users download a popular banking Trojan called “Cerberus” which is then used to steal valuable data from a victim’s device.

Cyber ​​Immunity Best Practices

When the threats described above come together, they have very serious and potentially harmful consequences for the efficient and effective adoption of vaccines. In addition to the obvious effects of disruptions in vaccine distribution, a loss of public confidence due to violations of the rollout must be avoided.

Fortunately, there are basic best practices that both individuals and organizations can use to achieve “cyber immunity” which, when widely used, can significantly reduce the risk of vaccine-related cyber attacks.

● Segmentation: Networks should be kept separate if possible. For organizations, traffic between them should be limited by strict guidelines. At home, individuals should use multiple router networks, assigning one for personal use and the other for work.

● Multi-factor authentication: Organizations and individuals should implement MFA whenever possible, as this second layer of protection is a significant deterrent against hackers looking for simple intrusion.

● Managing vulnerabilities: Most cyber attacks take advantage of unpatched vulnerabilities. Make sure you automate the deployment of critical updates for all operating systems and applications.

● Detection and prevention of behavioral abnormalities at endpoints: The ability to detect abnormal and abnormal behavior on networks is too much of a task for humans. State-of-the-art automated endpoint protection (EPP) platforms must be deployed across networks and endpoints to ensure that intruders are detected as they enter a system. Once installed, threat scanning must be done regularly. Threat hunting occurs when security teams are actively looking for behavioral anomalies rather than relying on alerts.

● To act with caution: Social engineering attacks, in which hackers attempt to take advantage of current events like the coronavirus and the introduction of vaccines, to trick potential victims into sharing confidential information or downloading malware, remain a popular strategy for attackers. This applies to organizations and individuals alike. The best defense against these attacks is to always be careful what you click. If something looks fishy, ​​it probably is. Finally, don’t click hyperlinks. Instead, cut them out and paste them into a browser. Check the url so you know where it will take you before you get there.

Protect yourself, protect others

As with Covid-19 itself, it is not only in your own interest to take the correct precautions, but also in the interests of those around you. Implement these cybersecurity best practices to help mitigate a digital pandemic and ensure the vaccine is delivered to those who need it as quickly and safely as possible.

When it comes to cybersecurity, vigilance is key. Stay vigilant and proactive as your reputation and digital health depend on it.

– By Tom Kellermann, Head of Cybersecurity Strategy, VMware Carbon Black and a member of the CNBC Technology Executive Council

U.S. Retail Gross sales January 2021: Spending Will increase

Consumers flocked to spend their stimulus checks in January, sending retail sales up 5.3% for a month in a blockbuster start through 2021, according to a government report on Wednesday.

Economists polled by Dow Jones expected an increase of only 1.2%.

Excluding cars, sales rose 5.9%, also well above the 1% estimate, driven by an unexpected strength from the consumer.

A month after Congress approved an additional $ 900 billion stimulus package on top of the $ 2.2 trillion approved in early 2020 to counter the effects of Covid-19, buyers were up with Armed with $ 600 checks they used to buy a variety of goods.

The surge in consumer spending came at a time when growth expectations were dampened in early 2021 as the economy continued to shake off the slowdown caused by the pandemic.

Spending gains were broad-based, with increases in each major category.

Electronics and home appliances saw the largest increase, up 14.7% over the month, while furniture and home furnishings stores grew 12% and online spending at retailers grew 11%. Even food and drink options, which suffered the worst during the pandemic, saw a 6.9% increase.

A year ago bars and restaurants continued to suffer as sales there fell 16.6%. Apparel and accessories were also down 11.1%, while electronics and home appliances were down 3.5%.

Online shopping is the biggest gain since January 2020, up 28.7%, while building materials rose 19% and sporting goods rose 22.5%.

While most economists are slow to start the year, they expect the pace to accelerate later in the year as vaccination efforts spread and the Covid-19 albatross subsides.

One of the main problems facing the recovery is inflation, and a separate data point showed that these pressures continue to increase.

The producer price index, which measures the prices domestic producers get for their goods, rose by 1.3%. This is the largest monthly gain since the measure began in December 2009.

Inventory futures are flat after Dow closed a report, Verizon wins after Berkshire added to its place

US stock index futures fluctuated in early morning trading Wednesday as investors weighed the improvement in economic data against rising inflation expectations.

Futures contracts linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 lost around 0.1%. Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.4%.

The slight weakness was due to retail sales rising 5.3% in January, surpassing a Dow Jones estimate of 1.2%. The rise in consumer spending could further fuel inflation expectations, which have already pushed bond yields higher recently.

Signs of a pickup in price pressure were already evident as the economy recovered from the pandemic-triggered recession with historic fiscal and monetary stimulus. The producer price index for final demand rose 1.3% in January, the largest increase since the index began in December 2009.

Government bond yields continued to rise on Wednesday, with 10-year government bond yields peaking at 1.33%, a level last seen in February 2020. The 30-year rate remained stable after hitting its highest level in a year in the previous session.

Some on Wall Street believe that higher interest rates could encourage investors to switch from stocks to bonds while putting pressure on areas of the market, including technology, that have benefited from the low interest rate environment.

“We’re filling a big void as of March 2020. As long as we stay tidy and shift rates for the right reasons, that’s fine in the short term,” said Gregory Faranello, head of US Interest Rate Trading at AmeriVet Securities. “But the Fed is watching. Should the financial conditions tighten with rising interest rates, the Fed will react. And quickly.”

The 10-year benchmark rate hit an all-time low of 0.318% in March, while a historic flight to bonds took place in the depths of the coronavirus crisis.

Verizon was among the top winners in premarket trading after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway announced a significant stake in the telecommunications giant. Shares rose 4% in premarket trading after the latest filing revealed that Berkshire bought more than $ 8 billion worth of shares in the fourth quarter, making Verizon one of the conglomerate’s six largest holdings.

Chevron stock was up 3% in premarket trading as filings showed that Berkshire also had a large stake in the energy company last quarter.

Elsewhere in the market, bitcoin topped $ 51,000 for the first time on Tuesday as the surge to new record highs continued.

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Biden shines on the town corridor by turning the web page to Trump and promising brighter days

President Joe Biden beamed in his first presidential town hall Tuesday night by turning the page to Donald Trump and telling the American people that hope is on the way.

Biden said while his administration inherited a vaccination problem from Trump, his team has now secured enough doses to vaccinate every American by the end of July.

Joe Biden explains how he and his team moved quickly to clean up Donald Trump’s left vaccine mess. #BidenTownHall pic.twitter.com/7EekDjPeK5

– PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 17, 2021

In a personal moment during City Hall, the president even offered to help a mother get a vaccine for her son who has a lung disease.

“If you want, I’ll stay here after this is over and maybe we can talk for a few minutes and see if I can help,” Biden told the woman.

Biden pledges to personally help the son of a woman with lung disease get a COVID vaccine. #BidenTownHall pic.twitter.com/vXfdezKNoC

– PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 17, 2021

When asked when life in the US will return to normal, Biden was careful not to over-promise, but said he was optimistic that things will get a lot brighter in a year.

The only condition, Biden said, is that the American people must continue to be vigilant by wearing a mask and socially distancing themselves from one another.

“These things are important,” said the president. “It can save many lives when we get to this point.”

When asked when Biden was going to return to normal life in America, Biden was careful not to over-promise, but said there was light at the end of the tunnel. #BidenTownHall pic.twitter.com/LbngvzJJNN

– PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 17, 2021

At one point, Biden even referred to Trump as the “former man”, a clear indication that he has very little interest in discussing his shameful predecessor.

Biden calls Trump the ex-man as he explains why companies need help and can’t just open up. pic.twitter.com/i7bzMN64Wb

– PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 17, 2021

Biden’s appearance was a clear – and welcome – departure from the Trump days

At least Joe Biden’s Tuesday night performance was a breath of fresh air just because he didn’t use the forum to provoke tantrums and attack his opponents.

But the president also painted an honest picture of where America currently stands on the pandemic and economic crisis as he outlined his plans to move beyond those challenges.

Joe Biden’s Town Hall was probably a nice change of pace for the American people after Donald Trump endured it for four long years.

Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter

Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as the Outreach Organizer of the Affordable Care Act in 2014, helping Northeast Ohio residents get health insurance.