White House on potential lockdowns: 'We are not going back' or 'turning back the clock'
'Our country is in a much stronger place than we took office,' Psaki said
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that the country was not headed toward more lockdowns despite a surge in the delta variant of the coronavirus.
When reporter Stephanie Ramos asked whether Americans should expect an economic slowdown with the delta variant surging, Psaki responded: "I think first the message is this is not March 2020 or even January 2021. We're not going to lock down our economy or our schools because our country is in a much stronger place than we took office."
She went on to tout President Biden's handling of the pandemic.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CORONAVIRUS IN THE US: STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN
"We are not going back," Psaki added. "We are not turning back the clock."
Psaki's remarks are likely a relief for most Americans as the country has undergone some form of coronavirus restrictions for more than a year.
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On Friday, the economy continued to show signs of rebound, with a jobs report that employers added 943,000 to their payrolls in July.
The administration has encountered scrutiny, however, over the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advising re-upping its mask guidance. The agency recommended that Americans, regardless of vaccination status, should wear masks indoors in certain areas of the country that are more at risk.