- The us Imposes a quarantine for everyone entering the country
- ECB kept the interest rates unchanged
- “Glad you stay with the family” WHO chief reacted to the continued US membership in the organization
The US Imposes a Quarantine for Everyone Entering the Country
The US Imposes a Quarantine for Everyone Entering the Country
The new US administration is tightening measures to counter the coronavirus. In particular, a quarantine will be introduced for everyone who enters the country, reports UNN with reference to Reuters.
Biden’s plan of action to combat the epidemic includes mass vaccinations, industry mobilization and travel restrictions.
Anyone entering the United States from overseas will not only be required to have a negative coronavirus test, but also be quarantined.
The strategy states that the administration is adopting a special decree on security measures for domestic and international travel. In accordance with these rules, travelers must present a negative coronavirus test upon arrival in the United States, as well as undergo quarantine in accordance with the recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
U.S. President Joe Biden signed an order mandating the change Thursday, one day after he was sworn into office. The new travel-specific order also requires masks on all airplanes as well as some other forms of public transportation.
With a burst of executive orders, Biden served notice Thursday that the nation’s Covid-19 response is under new management and he’s demanding progress to reduce infections and lift the siege Americans have endured for nearly a year.
“We didn’t get into this mess overnight, and it will take months to turn this around,” Biden said. “Despite the best intentions we’re going to face setbacks “ But he declared: “To a nation waiting for action, let me be clear on this point: Help is on the way.”
On the eve of Biden’s inauguration, his headquarters announced the signing of a number of important decrees. Among them, among others, were measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The president was going to introduce a hundred-day mask regime for all civil servants in the country, as well as to get similar measures from the state authorities.
In addition, the developed plan for countering the pandemic includes a twofold increase in coronavirus testing centers, eliminating the shortage of personal protective equipment, creating uniform recommendations on countering the pandemic for citizens and organizations, and developing a health protection program for elderly Americans and other people at risk. At the same time, Biden is not going to remove the coronavirus restrictions on entry to the United States, which had been partially weakened by his predecessor Donald Trump.
Biden also signed an executive action to use the Defense Production Act and all other available authorities to direct all federal agencies and private industry to accelerate the making of everything that’s needed to protect, test, vaccinate, and take care of people.
Biden also is seeking to expand testing and vaccine availability, with the goal of 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office. Zients, White House official, called Biden’s goal “ambitious and achievable.”
ECB Kept the Interest Rates Unchanged
ECB Kept the Interest Rates Unchanged
The European Central Bank (ECB) decided to keep the interest rates unchanged in line with the market expectations. The bank, which did not change the asset purchase programs, stated that the interest rates would be either present or at low levels until inflation converges to the target. At the press conference, ECB President Lagarde stated that the Eurozone contracted in the fourth quarter and restrictions would suppress growth in the first quarter.
ECB kept the overnight deposit rate at -0.50%. The bank decided to keep the policy rate at 0.00% and the overnight lending rate at 0.25%.
The ECB stated that the asset purchase program will continue at 20 billion euros per month, while keeping the pandemic asset purchase program at 1.85 trillion euros.
Stating that the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Program (PEPP), which was increased by 500 billion euros last month, will remain in effect until at least March 2022, the ECB will continue to invest in due PEPP bonds until the end of 2023.
In the text of the decision, it was emphasized that interest rates will be kept at the current or lower levels until the inflation target is achieved. The ECB was not expected to make changes in interest rates or asset purchases.
At the meeting held after the decision, ECB President Christine Lagarde stated that the Eurozone economy contracted in the last quarter of 2020 and that the increase in epidemic cases and restrictions will suppress growth in the first quarter as well.
Stating that the initiation of vaccination is an important stage, Lagarde stated that the difficulties in this regard continue and the pandemic continues to be a serious risk on the economy. Emphasizing that uncertainty in the economy remained high, Lagarde said that there are downside risks for the short-term outlook.
Lagarde stated that inflation remained low. Regarding inflation, “As ECB, we observe the exchange rate effect on inflation. Upward pressures on inflation are expected in the medium term when the effects of the pandemic diminish.”
Reiterating her call for financial incentives, Lagarde said: “Monetary support is still needed, strong steps are important in fiscal policies. Financial support should be targeted and temporary. The EU stimulus package should be implemented without delay.”
Chairman Lagarde stated that the European Central Bank is ready to use all the tools at its disposal.
In response to the question about the digital euro, President Lagarde said, “Even if we have a digital euro, the banknotes will remain in our lives. The process regarding the digital euro can take years,” she responded.
WHO Chief Reacted to the Continued US Membership in the Organization
“Glad You Stay with the Family” WHO Chief Reacted to the Continued US Membership in the Organization
Since the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948, the United States has played an important role in global health, said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked the new US President Joe Biden for maintaining the country’s membership in the organization.
“This is a good day for WHO and a good day for global health. My deepest thanks and warm congratulations to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and the American people. Thank you, President Biden, for keeping your promise to keep the US membership in the WHO “, – said Gebreyesus.
He said that since the founding of WHO in 1948, the United States has played an important role in global health.
“We look forward to continuing this partnership. There is much work to be done and lessons to be learned to end the pandemic and address the long list of global health challenges we face – but the world can better tackle them with you . WHO is a family of nations. And we are all glad that the United States remains in the family, “said the head of the organization.
On April 14, 2020, the United States temporarily stopped funding for WHO. Then-President Donald Trump said the money would be suspended pending a review of the effectiveness of WHO’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. More than 100 countries have demanded an impartial review of the actions of China and WHO. A US intelligence report, the contents of which became known to Bloomberg, said China was hiding the scale of the coronavirus outbreak by underreporting both the number of infections and the number of deaths.
Trump has repeatedly accused WHO of being ineffective and “obsessed with China.” On May 18, he delivered an ultimatum to the organization: the United States will stop funding WHO if it does not prove in a month that during the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan it did not help the Chinese authorities hide the danger from the whole world.
The WHO denied Trump’s accusations. Gebreyesus urged world leaders not to politicize the coronavirus issue. He said the US and China must unite in the fight against “this dangerous enemy.”
The EU has pledged to fund the World Health Organization instead of the US.
Trump notified the UN in July of leaving WHO, the decision was to take effect on July 6, 2021.
On January 21, new President Biden reversed Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from WHO.