Coronavirus pandemic
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Biden seeks to recast pandemic fight, rejecting lockdowns and school closures as omicron surges

While the president said those with vaccinations and boosters should go about their lives, he issued a grave warning to unvaccinated Americans that they risked serious illness or death

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Updated December 21, 2021 at 7:55 p.m. EST|Published December 21, 2021 at 5:00 a.m. EST
President Biden said on Dec. 21 his administration will start delivering a half-billion free rapid tests to homes in January. (Video: The Washington Post, Photo: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)

President Biden sought to recast the fight against the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, insisting the United States would not lock down or close schools despite surging cases driven by the new, highly transmissible omicron variant.

Instead, Biden argued that Americans who are vaccinated and boosted remain largely protected from severe illness and should plan to celebrate the holidays with family and friends as normal.