The forecast for 100 million potential infections is an estimate based on a number of external models that are closely monitored by the administration and will include both fall and winter, a senior administration official told CNN. Officials argue that this assessment is based on the basic assumption that no additional resources or additional mitigation measures are being taken, including new funding for Covid-19 from Congress or dramatic new options.
The White House shares these estimates as officials renew their efforts to get Congress to approve additional funding to fight the virus and as the nation approaches the 1 million coronavirus deaths. Officials say the White House will mark the moment when the United States exceeds 1 million deaths from Covid-19.
The Biden administration has been warning for weeks that additional funding is needed to continue the federal response to Covid-19, even as it seeks to return to “normal” by removing many restrictions from the pandemic era.
The $ 100 million estimate was first reported by The Washington Post. CNN reported that the Biden administration requested $ 22.5 billion in additional funding for Covid-19 in March in a huge package of government funding, but it was removed from the bill. This request included funding for testing, treatment, therapy and prevention of future outbreaks. Negotiators managed to reach an agreement on a reduced $ 10 billion package, but Congress left Washington in April without passing the bipartisan bill amid disagreements over immigration policy in Title 42, a pandemic rule that allowed migrants to return immediately. in their home countries, citing a public health emergency.
Officials say the United States could remain unprepared for future waves without new funding.
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