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President Biden To Visit Cincinnati For Town Hall

joe biden
Carolyn Kaster
/
AP
Then-candidate Joe Biden speaks at Cincinnati Museum Center's Union Terminal October 12, 2020.

President Joe Biden will visit Cincinnati next week. The White House says the president will participate in a town hall hosted by CNN.

The televised event is scheduled for July 21 at 8 p.m. CNN anchor Don Lemon is scheduled to moderate the live, international broadcast. According to the network, topics are expected to range from COVID-19 to the economy.

It comes roughly six months into Biden's tenure, as the administration is pushing people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. As the Delta variant continues its fast-paced spread, health and government officials worry about an increasing uptick in COVID-19 cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the Delta variant accounts for more than 50% of cases, and the percentage is even higher in areas with low vaccination rates.

"As of July 8, 2021, 183.2 million people have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 158.3 million are fully vaccinated," theCDC reports. "However, we are also seeing new and emerging trends that are concerning. Cases and hospitalizations are on the rise in areas with low vaccination coverage. Data from recent weeks show that adults ages 18–49 now account for more than 40% of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations."

While Ohio went for Donald Trump in the 2020 election, Hamilton County was one of seven counties that went for Biden. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who plans to run for re-election, has been criticized by many in his party for his response to the pandemic, including masking requirements and other economic measures. He's joined the president on multiple occasions to encourage people to get vaccinated.

The town hall event is invitation-only according to CNN. FC Cincinnati is also scheduled to play a home match at TQL Stadium that evening, also at 8 p.m.

Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.