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An elderly person walks on an almost-deserted shopping street in Vienna, on Nov. 22. Austria has again entered a nationwide lockdown. (Akos Stiller/Bloomberg News)

America isn’t headed toward lockdowns, say White House officials

Updated November 23, 2021 at 4:22 p.m. EST|Published November 23, 2021 at 3:59 a.m. EST

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The United States is not headed for lockdowns like the ones facing European countries, even though coronavirus cases are rising with the arrival of winter, Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, told reporters Monday. “We are not headed in that direction,” Zients said.  

Here’s what to know

  • French Prime Minister Jean Castex, 56, has tested positive for the coronavirus and is displaying slight symptoms, his office said. Case numbers are rising in France and across much of Europe as leaders scramble to impose tougher measures.
  • The White House announced that 95 percent of federal employees have complied with a vaccination mandate before a Monday evening deadline set by the Biden administration.
  • Vice President Harris announced $1.5 billion in funding to help eliminate a shortage of doctors and nurses in underserved communities by providing scholarships and repaying the student loans of providers who work in medically needy areas.
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French Prime Minister Jean Castex, 56, has tested positive for the coronavirus and is displaying slight symptoms, his office said. Case numbers are rising in France and across much of Europe as leaders scramble to impose tougher measures.
The White House announced that 95 percent of federal employees have complied with a vaccination mandate before a Monday evening deadline set by the Biden administration.
Vice President Harris announced $1.5 billion in funding to help eliminate a shortage of doctors and nurses in underserved communities by providing scholarships and repaying the student loans of providers who work in medically needy areas.

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Coronavirus: What you need to know

End of the public health emergency: The Biden administration ended the public health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic on May 11, just days after WHO said it would no longer classify the coronavirus pandemic as a public health emergency. Here’s what the end of the covid public health emergency means for you.

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