They're even opening some of those Vegas pfeilines. Talk about a gamble.

Leads starts right now. Hit the lights. Last Vegas leading the way is a new month begins

and more cities fully break out of their COVID hibernation as one expert warns. It would

be a quote monumental error to act as though the pandemic is over. Any moment President

Biden will speak to mark one of the worst acts of racist terrorism in American history

since a white mob destroyed black wall street and killed hundreds. Biden will commemorate

this as he discusses plans to close the racial wealth gap in this country. We'll bring

that to you live. Plus an activist in Belarus stabs himself in the throat in a courtroom

instead of giving false testimony. The latest horror spotlighting the brutal dictatorship

there.

Welcome to lead on Jake Tapper and we begin today with our health lead and a return to

normalcy for millions of Americans new COVID cases deaths hospitalizations all at their

lowest points since about last year. For the first time since March 2020 14 months

ago the seven day average is below 20,000 cases just a month ago cases were around 50,000.

This rapid drop is in large part due to vaccinations half of the total US population has received

at least one dose more than 40% are fully vaccinated. But a new study reported in the Journal

of the American Medical Association finds a vaccination vaccinations alone will not stop

this pandemic even though they do reduce sickness and deaths considerably. Masks in physical

distancing experts maintain are still needed to get transmission rates down because so many

millions of Americans continue to refuse to get the vaccine. So as seen in Alexander Field

reports for us now one expert says it would be a quote monumental error to think the pandemic's over.

It's just the best feeling in the world to finally see this. The triumphant return of travel.

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