{"id":11516,"date":"2021-01-19T23:43:42","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T07:43:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=11516"},"modified":"2021-01-20T00:07:42","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T08:07:42","slug":"post1-132","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=11516","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Joe Biden holds memorial for 400,000 Americans who have died of Covid-19&#8221;, The Guardian"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Victoria Bekiempis, London, 20 Jan 2021<\/p>\n<p><em>In first large-scale acknowledgment of pandemic\u2019s sweeping toll in the US, Kamala Harris says Americans can \u2018begin healing together\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"css-pn0kqp\">\n<div class=\"css-krkkhw\">\n<div class=\"css-nzznp8\">\n<div id=\"youtube-block-main-media-0\" data-cy=\"main-media-youtube-atom\">\n<div data-chromatic=\"ignore\">\n<div class=\"css-fmnl8g-className\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"youtube-video-VsdHR0PkJS8\" tabindex=\"-1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/VsdHR0PkJS8?embed_config={%22adsConfig%22:{%22adTagParameters%22:{%22iu%22:%22\/59666047\/theguardian.com\/world\/article\/ng%22,%22cust_params%22:%22sens%3Df%26si%3Df%26vl%3D0%26cc%3DUK%26s%3Dworld%26inskin%3Df%26ct%3Darticle%26co%3Dvictoria-bekiempis%26url%3D%252Fworld%252F2021%252Fjan%252F19%252Fbiden-coronavirus-memorial-us-deaths-ceremony%26su%3D0%26edition%3Duk%26tn%3Dnews%26p%3Dng%26k%3Dkamala-harris%2Cjoebiden%2Cwashington-dc%2Cbiden-administration%2Ccoronavirus-outbreak%2Cus-news%26sh%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fgu.com%252Fp%252Fg6b3k%26pa%3Df%22}}}&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com&amp;widgetid=1&amp;modestbranding=1\" width=\"460\" height=\"259\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"css-b0ztmo-overlayStyles-className\" tabindex=\"0\"><picture><source srcset=\"\" media=\"(-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" sizes=\"(min-width: 660px) 620px, 100vw\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/9838cda85b93db51697dd05e11d81a561348cbcb\/0_0_5036_3021\/master\/5036.jpg?width=700&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=85a5571db7805dfdeb9927d2f291b19d 500w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 660px) 620px, 100vw\" \/><img class=\"css-7eybl6-className\" alt=\"\" width=\"460\" height=\"259\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"css-19x4pdv\">Biden and Harris hold vigil for 400,000 Covid victims as bells toll across US \u2013 video<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1o781fl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1o781fl\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/joebiden\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Joe Biden<\/a> memorialized the more than 400,000 Americans who have died from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2021\/jan\/17\/coronavirus-live-news-brazil-fifth-day-with-over-1000-deaths-vaccine\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Covid-19<\/a> during a vigil in Washington DC late Tuesday afternoon, as many Americans took to social media in collective mourning.<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-15ibrj7\">\n<div class=\"css-avj6db\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector css-79elbk article-body-viewer-selector\">\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">The grim milestone was passed earlier on Tuesday as the latest figures from Johns Hopkins university show that about 401,128 people have now been killed by the virus in the US amid more than 24m cases \u2013 both numbers being by far the highest in the world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">\u201cTo heal, we must remember,\u201d Biden said at the memorial. \u201cIt\u2019s hard sometimes to remember, but that\u2019s how we heal. It\u2019s important to do that as a nation.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"dfp-ad--inline1\" class=\"js-ad-slot ad-slot ad-slot--inline ad-slot--inline1 ad-slot--fluid ad-slot--rendered\" data-link-name=\"ad slot inline1\" data-name=\"inline1\" data-mobile=\"1,1|2,2|300,197|300,250|300,274|fluid\" data-phablet=\"1,1|2,2|300,197|300,250|300,274|620,350|550,310|fluid\" data-desktop=\"1,1|2,2|300,250|300,274|620,1|620,350|550,310|fluid\" data-google-query-id=\"CNGZ3YWGqu4CFToIrQYdPnEPkA\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">The memorial was hosted by Biden\u2019s inaugural committee, which <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BidenInaugural\/status\/1351620449126424577\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">described<\/a>\u00a0the event as \u201ca chance to reflect and honor those no longer with us. The committee had called for a \u201cnational moment of unity\u201d, asking Americans to light candles in their windows. Organizers also asked for participants to ring bells for a \u201cnational moment of remembrance\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">Organizers also illumined 400 lights along the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, to remember those who died.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">Many <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/beckbjj\/status\/1351664703429337088\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">posted<\/a> messages of remembrance and photos of candles to social media. \u201cRIP to my family and friends who I lost to Covid. Prayers up for my dad and many others who are still suffering &amp; All those who have lost loved ones. Thank you Biden for honoring 400k lives lost,\u201d wrote Twitter user <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TamiekaChisolm\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">@TamiekaChisolm.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">\u201c400k . Miss you everyday Nana,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/iam_justemma\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">@iam_justemma<\/a> tweeted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">Actor Rosie Perez <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rosieperezbklyn\/status\/1351658034834132994\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">remarked<\/a>: \u201cIn tears right now. With the death toll at 400,000, It took way too long to honor those who lost their lives due to<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/COVID19?src=hashtag_click\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">#COVID19<\/a> but glad it\u2019s finally happening. Thanks <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoeBiden\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">@JoeBiden<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KamalaHarris\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">@KamalaHarris<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/COVIDMemorial?src=hashtag_click\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">#COVIDMemorial<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"rich-link-9\">\n<div class=\"css-16cuuq6\" data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-0 | 0\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"\">\n<div class=\"css-wz7t6r\">\n<div class=\"css-ghyc83\"><\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-ducv57\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/726f334b3c24c09b6d09e8f0607e445942b3a0a1\/0_212_4971_2984\/master\/4971.jpg?width=460&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=7f50d0c283bda5c542791bceed9f527b\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-upffb1\">\n<div class=\"css-m4qltb\">\n<div class=\"css-1gqsble\">US coronavirus death toll passes 400,000 amid grim forecast over winter<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-9g571g\">\n<div class=\"css-dobi02\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">The memorial marks the first large-scale acknowledgment of Covid-19\u2019s massive toll on individuals, families and communities across the US. President-elect Biden\u2019s recognition of the tragedy stands in stark contrast to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a>, who repeatedly downplayed the dangers of coronavirus amid a botched response by his administration that frequently included peddling conspiracy theories and denialism.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">\u201cWe gather tonight, a nation in mourning, to pay tribute to lives we have lost, a grandmother or grandfather who is our whole world, a parent, partner, sibling or friend who we still cannot accept is no longer here, and for many months we have grieved by ourselves,\u201d said Vice-president elect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/kamala-harris\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Kamala Harris<\/a> at the memorial. \u201cTonight, we grieve and begin healing together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">Officials across the US joined Biden and Harris in the memorial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, speaking near the Statue of Liberty, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NYCMayor\/status\/1351657934267138048\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">described<\/a> the vigil as a \u201cpowerful moment of unity for our city and for our country\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">\u201cAll over America at this moment, people are gathered [with] a common purpose: to remember those that we lost, to feel what their families are feeling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">Numerous landmarks and buildings across the US lit up for the occasion. The famed Empire State Building <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DavidCaplanNYC\/status\/1351660418624843779\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">pulsed<\/a> with its \u201cred heartbeat lighting\u201d in honor of those who died.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">Biden has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2021\/jan\/15\/biden-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-vaccination-plan\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">promised<\/a> a sweeping plan to combat the coronavirus pandemic, including vaccinating 100 million US residents in his first 100 days in office. While the top US infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, said this plan is \u201cabsolutely a doable thing\u201d, Biden will inherit a coronavirus response that has repeatedly been described as a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2021\/jan\/15\/biden-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-vaccination-plan\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">mess<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">The federal government distributed vaccines to US states, and then left allocation protocols up to them. This scattershot approach, coupled with longstanding deficiencies in the US public health system, has stymied efforts to vaccinate Americans on a large scale.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">Some local officials have warned that they will soon run out of the vaccine if they don\u2019t receive additional federal shipments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">This botched vaccine rollout is all the more dangerous because a new Covid-19 variant, which is more transmissible, is poised to become far more prevalent, burdening the healthcare system even more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">It\u2019s unclear whether Biden\u2019s $1.9tn coronavirus plan will get necessary bipartisan support. Congress members in both parties have voiced concern about the cost.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">Members of Biden\u2019s administration have nonetheless voiced optimism.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\">\u201cThere\u2019s been bipartisan support for all of these pieces,\u201d Kate Bedingfield, the incoming White House communications director, said during a recent TV appearance. \u201cThis plan reflects the urgent needs, the things that people need right now.\u201d \u201cWe\u2019ve got millions of Americans unemployed. We\u2019ve got thousands of Americans dying from the virus every day. There\u2019s no question we are in a state of emergency here, and this plan is designed to get the relief that people need to them right away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-38z03z\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2021\/jan\/19\/biden-coronavirus-memorial-us-deaths-ceremony\">The Guardian<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Victoria Bekiempis, London, 20 Jan 2021 In first large-scale acknowledgment of pandemic\u2019s sweeping toll in the US, Kamala Harris says Americans can \u2018begin healing together\u2019 Biden and Harris hold vigil for 400,000 Covid victims as bells toll across US \u2013 video Joe Biden memorialized the more than 400,000 Americans who have died from Covid-19 during [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1001004,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11516"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1001004"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11516"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11521,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11516\/revisions\/11521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}