WASHINGTON - Amid rising concerns over the delta variant of the novel coronavirus, the White House plans to deploy "surge response" teams to help combat potential outbreaks as well as work to get more shots in arms in areas where vaccination rates are low, White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients said during a Thursday COVID-19 press briefing. "As both Dr.
Walensky and Dr. Fauci just made clear, the delta variant is a threat to unvaccinated Americans and to communities with low vaccination rates.
And the best way for communities to protect themselves from the virus is by getting more people vaccinated," Zients said. Despite relaxed preventative health restrictions and decreasing COVID-19 deaths, the United States is still vulnerable.