More than 30 million people celebrated Christmas on Friday in the U.S. for fear of losing their homes due to paralysis around the new stimulus package and while Los Angeles hospitals run out of medical supplies to care for new patients. at covid-19.
“We know that for many in our nation, this has been a very difficult year. And in these times we must turn to the hope and humanity that unites us,” said US President-elect Joe Biden in a video with his wife, Jill, and in which they both appear on a sofa with Christmas decorations in the background.
Biden, who will take office on Jan. 20, paid tribute to all those Americans who have been out of work since the start of the pandemic and also to those who are struggling to eat or pay their mortgages and rentals.
“Many Americans face their first Christmas having lost someone,” acknowledged Jill, who recalled that she and her husband know first hand this feeling for the loss in 2015 of Beau Biden, one of the former vice president’s sons with Barack Obama (2009-2017).
“We know,” said Jill, “that in these times of pain, a kind word can mean a lot.”
UNEMPLOYMENT, EVICTIONS AND POVERTY
The Biden family made no mention of the stimulus package that has been left in limbo by the demands of outgoing President Donald Trump; although this is the issue that most worries millions of Americans who have been waiting for months for government aid.
On Monday night, the U.S. Congress approved a $ 900 billion stimulus plan to help the U.S. economy hit by the pandemic shutdown, which includes direct payments of $ 600, aid to the United States. $ 300 weekly unemployment and small business loans.
The package was approved after months of tough negotiations between Democrats and Republicans; but, surprisingly, on Tuesday Trump threatened to veto this package if a $ 600 to $ 2,000 increase in direct payments is not included.
Congress has refused to include this and other changes, and now the stimulus package faces an uncertain future because it cannot come into force without Trump’s signature.
In practical terms, that means 14 million Americans could see their unemployment benefits expire on Saturday, and by the end of the month, 30 million would face evictions, which have so far been blocked.
In addition, 10 million Americans have lost their jobs since the pandemic’s restrictions began in March, and another 8 million people have fallen into poverty since June, when the first federal aid expired. according to a study from the University of Chicago.
The new stimulus package, if it finally goes ahead, would be the first aid millions of Americans have received since March, when Congress approved a $ 2.2 trillion bailout plan, the largest in US history
LONG WAITS FOR FOOD BANKS
The situation has resulted in long queues of vehicles that for hours have had to wait in recent days at the doors of food banks, a picture that has already occurred in Thanksgiving and has been repeated by Christmas in several cities, such as Taula (Arizona) and Houston (Texas).
The Salvation Army, a Protestant organization, usually distributes about 2.6 million meals for Christmas, but this year the figure is more than 6 million, the group’s director, Kenneth G. Hodder, told Fox .
“It is no exaggeration to say that there has been a tsunami of human need,” Hodder lamented.
LOS ANGELES IS ABOUT TO BE OUT OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
On the other hand, the virus continues to hit the US, which yesterday Thursday again recorded an increase of more than 3,000 deaths, according to the independent count of Johns Hopkins University.
California, which overcame the barrier of two million infections Thursday, has become the new epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. and Los Angeles County hospitals are struggling to find the medical supplies needed to care for patients.
For example, many hospitals are running out of oxygen and the collapse is such that in some cases patients have to wait up to eight hours in an ambulance before they can enter the emergency room, he reported. this Friday the Los Angeles Times.
This occurs while the county’s intensive care units are at 100% capacity.
In the U.S., since the pandemic began, 18.6 million cases and more than 329,000 deaths have been reported, according to Johns Hopkins University.