HHS nominee: country is in a COVID-19 ‘dive’

Nominee for President Biden’s Health and Human Services Xavier BecerraXavier Becerra Sunday Shows Preview: All Eyes On Biden Government To Tackle Coronavirus Senate Chaos Threatens To Slow Biden’s Agenda ENERGY OVERNIGHT: Court Scraps Trump Coal Plant Rule | Green groups sue after Trump administration stripped bird protections | Trump administration rushes to finalize Arctic oil contracts last day in office MORE said Sunday the country was experiencing uncontrolled spread of the virus.

‘The plane is in a dive. And we have to step it up, ”Becerra told CNN Dana BashDana BashTapper fights GOP lawmakers over criticism of vote from Afghan vet’s electoral college CNN extends Jake Tapper’s show to two hours, shortening Wolf Blitzer’s show Fauci: Mutant coronavirus strain must be taken ‘very seriously’ MORE. ‘And you are not going to do that overnight. But we’re going to get started. We have to come. Failure is not an option.’

Becerra said federal-level leadership was necessary to ensure that the vaccine rollout and the state’s efforts to control the virus were effective and handled smoothly.

“But first you have to save people, you have to save the economy,” he said, adding, “President Biden made it clear: it will not happen overnight.”

“We can’t just tell the states, here’s some personal protective equipment, some masks, here’s some vaccines, go do it now,” added the HHS candidate.

His comments came in response to questions about comments Biden made, who suggested that the US could do little to smooth the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic in the coming months.

“There is nothing we can do to change the trajectory of the pandemic in the coming months,” Biden said Friday.

The Biden administration has promised a more practical approach to combat the spread of COVID-19, as opposed to the Trump administration’s largely state-focused approach to vaccine distribution.

During his first week in office, Biden signed a number of executive orders, including orders to address the pandemic, such as a requirement for travelers to wear masks at airports.