Joe Biden to make primetime address marking anniversary of US COVID-19 lockdowns on Thursday

The COVID-19 pandemic has killed over 500,000 Americans even as vaccine rollouts are speeding up. This week, marking one year since the COVID-19 lockdowns, President Joe Biden will deliver a primetime address.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced that Biden will be making a primetime address on Thursday to mark the anniversary of the COVID-19 lockdowns in the country. NBC News will be broadcasting Biden’s address, but other networks are likely going to broadcast the remarks as well.

“He will discuss the many sacrifices the American people have made over the past year, and the grave loss communities and families across the country have suffered. The president will look forward, highlighting the role that Americans will play in beating the virus and moving the country toward getting back to normal,” said Psaki regarding what Biden may talk about.

There have not been any plans for Biden to address a joint session of Congress, in keeping with the tradition for new presidents in lieu of a State of the Union speech. However, Psaki announced that Biden will be holding his first press conference by the end of the month. The President’s upcoming address also comes in the wake of the Senate passing his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief proposal back to the House to turn out a final version of the relief package. The Senate passed the proposal by party lines on a vote of 50-49. Senate Republicans opposed the bill.

Despite the high rollout of vaccines with more and more people getting vaccinated for COVID-19 every day, Americans are still advised to socially distance, wear masks in public, and stay indoors as much as possible. However, states like Texas and Mississippi have already begun to reopen 100 percent, lifting the advised COVID-19 restrictions. Biden last week, criticized the states for lifting the restrictions against the advice of health experts. Biden accused Texas and Mississippi officials of “Neanderthal thinking,” saying that the move to reopen was a “big mistake” and stressing the importance of wearing face masks in places where social distancing cannot be done.

“The last thing -- the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything’s fine, take off your mask, forget it. It still matters,” said Biden.