President Joe Biden is optimistic that the US can enjoy a relatively normal July 4 celebration, provided that the country suppresses the spread of the virus.
In his first televised primetime address as president, Biden discussed how the United States and the world can overcome the coronavirus.
Having been the country that was hardest hit by the global pandemic, Biden's speech paid tribute to all those Americans that passed away over the last year while igniting some hope for a better future.
"This fight is far from over. While it was different for everyone, we all lost something: a collective suffering, a collective sacrifice," he said.
However, if Americans stay the course, follow health experts' guidelines and get vaccinated, a relatively normal July 4 is on the cards.
He said: "If we do this together, by July the 4th, there's a good chance you, your families and friends will be able to get together in your backyard or in your neighbourhood and have a cookout or a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day.
"That will make this Independence Day something truly special where we not only mark our independence as a nation but we begin to mark our independence from this virus."
At present, the US has the most Covid-related deaths in the world but in terms of vaccine production and distribution, it's moving ahead of Europe and Canada.
President Biden has also directed each US state to make all adults eligible for a Covid vaccine by May 1.
On Thursday, the US president signed into law a 1.9 trillion dollar relief package that he said will help defeat the virus, nurse the economy back to health and deliver direct aid to Americans in need.
On the topic of the US having millions of unused AZ vaccines - despite the fact that they're not even authorised yet in the US - Ireland's Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that the responsibility for obtaining extra vaccines is for the EU to decide on and that Ireland will not do things by itself.
