for all of that.

Good evening.

It is unusual and extraordinary to hear President in an address the nation, so obviously frustrated

with millions of his own fellow Americans.

But that was the tone the President Biden struck late this afternoon as he announced a series

of new steps to fight the coronavirus surge.

Frustration at Republicans fighting mask mandates in schools, many of whom have been defiant

in their response to the new rules and guidance.

But also, tens of millions of vaccine-eligible Americans who remain unvaccinated, saying

at one point, we've been patient, but quote, our patience is wearing thin, unsparing

in whose to blame equally blunt about the difficult road ahead.

While America is much better shaped than it was seven months ago when I took office, I need

to tell you a second fact, we're in the tough stretch and it could last for a while.

President Biden laid out a six-point program to combat the virus and we'll talk about

them with the President's chief medical officer, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and whether they can

actually help reverse a COVID surge.

Those put cases and deaths higher than they were one year ago.

First we want to lay out the basics of the administration's six-part plan.

First new vaccination requirements, perhaps the headline here, employers with more than

a hundred workers be required to have mask mandates or weekly testing.

Although that testing comes with the requirement that the employer provide paid time off.

The employer to comply could mean fines.

...