President Biden admitted that more lives will be lost to the Delta variant of COVID-19, even as he encouraged Americans to enjoy their Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Delivering an optimistic message at the White House on positive jobs numbers, he struck an uneasy balance as he warned of more COVID deaths ahead but played down worries that the Delta variant would turn back the clock to the worst days of the pandemic.
'I am concerned that people who have not gotten vaccinated have the capacity to catch the variant and spread the variant to other people who have not been vaccinated,' he said.
'I am not concerned there's going to be a major outbreak, in other words that we're going to have another major epidemic nationwide, but I am concerned that lives will be lost.'
President Biden said: 'I am not concerned there's going to be a major outbreak, in other words that we're going to have another major epidemic nationwide, but I am concerned that lives will be lost'
AAA is forecasting that more than 47.7 million Americans will take to the roads and skies over the weekend as families prepare to enjoy the holiday in pre-pandemic numbers.
Local officials in several states, such as Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Nevada, are reporting an increase in cases of COVID-19 ahead of July 4 weekend
Health experts blame the Indian 'Delta' variant spreading, making up 26.1% of new cases in the country and as many as 77% of cases in some states
He was speaking as Americans prepared to celebrate Independence Day in numbers not seen since before the pandemic, at cookouts, family reunions and fireworks parties.
The president plans to host more than 1000 people - including first responders and troops - at the White
