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22:46 GMT
WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (KUNA) -- US President Joe Biden late Thursday signed several executive orders to contain COVID-19 by expanding testing, administering vaccines, advancing an equitable response, and safely reopening schools and businesses.
"Today, I announced my COVID-19 National Action Plan. We're mounting an aggressive, coordinated, equitable, and professional response to get the virus under control as soon as possible."
President Biden signed an order mandating mask usage in airports and on many planes, trains, ships and intercity buses, the White House said.
The moves are part of a new strategy released Thursday to confront the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 405,000 people in the United States.
Airline workers have described the dangerous results of passengers refusing to follow mask requirements issued by airlines. Safety reports filed with the federal government show flight attendants being repeatedly taunted and verbally abused by passengers, including some who called the virus a "political hoax."
"We didn't get into this mess overnight and it's going to take months for us to turn things around. But let me be equally clear - we will get through this," Biden said in remarks
"We will defeat this pandemic, and to a nation waiting for action, let me be the clearest on this point: help is on the way.
"We will level with you when we make a mistake. We will straight up say what happened.
"We are still in the dark winter of this pandemic". (end)
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