Biden marks ‘special celebration’ but warns COVID ‘hasn’t been vanquished’

President Biden declared Sunday that “America is coming back together” after more than a year of “pain, fear and heartbreaking loss,” but added that the coronavirus pandemic “has not been vanquished” and urged Americans to get vaccinated if they have not already done so.

“This year, the 4th of July is a day of special celebration,” Biden said in remarks from the South Lawn of the White House, “for we are emerging from the darkness of … a year of pandemic and isolation, a year of pain, fear and heartbreaking loss. The White House had urged state, local and tribal authorities to hold Independence Day celebrations around the country as the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations reach lows not seen since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. The president and first lady Jill Biden welcomed 1,000 essential workers and military family members to the White House for a barbecue, the largest event of the Biden presidency to date. Attendees were asked to take a COVID test and wear a mask if they were not fully vaccinated.