Author: Maureen Groppe and Courtney Subramanian, USA TODAY

Biden’s remarks on coronavirus come as the US faces the new omicron variant, a surge in infections, long lines for testing and overwhelmed hospitals.

Merck will help produce Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine to boost supplies of the one-shot immunization.

While some tensions still exist between the White House and states, governors are appreciative of President Joe Biden’s responsiveness.