Today’s In Crisis headlines

(NEW YORK) — Here are today’s In Crisis headlines:

President Biden to address Congress tonight; will propose $1.8 trillion ‘American Family Plan’
President Biden tonight will deliver his first remarks to a joint session of Congress, which will include presenting his $1.8 trillion ‘American Family Plan,’ which the White House is calling “a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s future.” The plan, $800 billion of which will go to tax cuts for middle- and lower-income Americans, includes universal pre-K care for three and four year olds, as well as two years of free universal community college. It also caps how much low- and middle-income Americans must spend on childcare, extends Affordable Care Act tax credits, expands paid leave and more. Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina will deliver the GOP response. Biden’s address comes two days before Friday’s 100th day of his administration.

Tonight’s address, which is scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m. ET, will also appear markedly different from past presidential addresses. Due to COVID-19 protocols, the House chamber likely will not be full. Biden will wear a mask as he does the traditional walk down the center aisle of the House chamber, and will remove the mask to deliver his remarks. Prior to the speech, he will also meet with Capitol staff who were present for the January 6th Capitol attack, which has also resulted in heavier security than normal during the speech. One tradition that is going by the wayside: the naming of a designated survivor, which White House press secretary Jen Psaki said was unnecessary “because the Cabinet will be watching from their offices or home.”

COVID-19 numbers
Here’s the latest data on COVID-19 coronavirus infections, deaths and vaccinations.

Latest reported COVID-19 numbers globally per Johns Hopkins University
Global diagnosed cases: 148,815,508
Global deaths: 3,138,173. The United States has the most deaths of any single country, with 573,383.
Number of countries/regions: at least 192
Total patients recovered globally: 86,344,434

Latest reported COVID-19 numbers in the United States per Johns Hopkins University
There are at least 32,176,908 reported cases in 50 states + the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. This is more than in any other country.
U.S. deaths: at least 573,383. California has the greatest number of reported deaths in the U.S., with 61,526.
U.S. total people tested: 429,561,249

The greatest number of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is in California, with 3,736,745 confirmed cases out of a total state population of 39.51 million. This ranks third in the world after England, which has 3,852,904 cases, and Maharashtra, India, which leads the world with 4,410,085 reported cases. Texas is second in the U.S., with 2,882,680 confirmed cases out of a total state population of 29 million.

Latest reported COVID-19 vaccination numbers in the United States
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a total of 297,543,635 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been distributed in the U.S. Of those, 232,407,669 doses have been administered, with 141,751,857 people receiving at least one dose and 96,747,454 people fully vaccinated, representing 42.7% and 29.1% of the total U.S. population, respectively. The Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines each require two doses to be effective. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires a single dose to be effective.

CDC says vaccinated people can go maskless outdoors, with exceptions
You can ditch the mask while walking your dog or dining outside with friends if you are fully immunized against COVID-19, according to new guidance Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But you should continue to wear a mask for any outdoor crowded events like concerts, parades and sporting events. Wearing a mask in public spaces indoors also remains a must. Most people are considered to be fully immunized two weeks after receiving their final vaccination. On NBC’s Today this morning, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who heads the White House COVID-19 task force, said the risk of getting infected if you’re vaccinated and outdoors is “minusculey low,” unless you’re in a densely packed gathering of people, such as at a concert or sporting event.

COVID-19 crisis in India worsens as new cases overwhelm health care system
India crossed a grim milestone Wednesday of 200,000 people lost to COVID-19 as a devastating surge of new infections tears through the nation and overwhelms health care systems already on the brink of collapse. India’s health ministry reported a single-day record of 3,293 COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing India’s total fatalities to 201,187, as the world’s second most populous country endures its darkest chapter of the pandemic yet. The country also reported 362,757 new infections, a new global record. The U.S. continues to lead the world in total COVID-19 cases and deaths, with 32,176,908 and 573,383 reported, respectively.

As the first shipment of medical aid arrived in India from the U.K., President Biden on Wednesday acknowledged talking with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi about sending vaccine to India. “I’ve discussed with him when we’ll be able to send actual vaccines to India, which will be my intention to do,” said Biden, adding that “We have to make sure we have other vaccines” first, after which “I think we’ll be in a position to be able to share.”