In his first major prime time address to the nation as president, Joe Biden will mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 crisis, the tragic loss of over 527,000 lives and the pandemic's devastating impact on the American economy.
The direct-to-camera remarks will "discuss the many sacrifices the American people have made over the last year and the grave loss communities and families across the country have suffered," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told the media on Monday.
Biden's address is scheduled to take place Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
Reacting to Americans’ weariness as the year-long pandemic persists, aides have said the president's speech "will be his most forward-looking toward reopening," as reported by CNN.
President Biden’s address comes a year to the day the World Health Organization officially declared the crisis a pandemic, touching off a year of nationwide health restrictions, economic disparity and political infighting. It also comes exactly a year after former President Donald Trump spoke to Americans from the Oval Office, suspending travel from Europe for 30 days.
A year later, vaccine production and distribution are dominating headlines.
Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated guidelines for vaccinated Americans, renewing hope for a return to pre-pandemic life. Congress on Wednesday passed the $1.9 trillion "American Rescue Plan" that will trigger $1,400 stimulus checks for many Americans.
Biden is expected to sign it into law on Friday.
After that, the president will reportedly hit the road, touring spots around the country most in need of the stimulus funds dispersed by the bill.
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