Biden to pay respects to Capitol police officer killed in car attack – live updates

The hearse carrying the casket of Officer William “Billy” Evans, who was killed in a car attack at the Capitol earlier this month, has arrived at the Capitol.

Evans will lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda today, and congressional leaders will hold a ceremony to mourn his death, which will be attended by Joe Biden.

Fellow USCP officers lined up outside the Capitol to salute Evans’ casket.

The ceremony to honor Evans will get underway soon. The blog will have updates on it, so stay tuned.

The senior health officials said they are not seeing similar side effects from the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccines.

Dr Anne Schuchat, the principal CDC director, also noted the risk of these rare side effects is “very low” if someone received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than a month ago.

Dr Peter Marks, the director of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, noted these rare side effects seem to be arising between six and thirteen days after administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Asked how long the pause might last, Dr Janet Woodcook, acting FDA commissioner, said that would depend on the information that health experts gather in the coming days.

“We expect it to be a matter of days for this pause,” Woodcook said.

Senior officials from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are now holding a press briefing on the latest news about the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine.

Dr Janet Woodcook, acting FDA commissioner, pledged the agencies would “work together to fully understand” the six reports of blood clots in women who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“Right now, I would like to stress these events seem to be extremely rare,” Woodcook said.

Of the more than 6 million Johnson & Johnson shots administered, only six reports of this stroke-like illness have been recorded. Of those six cases, one was fatal, and one patient is in critical condition.

Dr Peter Marks, the director of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, added, “That said, Covid-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for federal government.”

The officials emphasized this pause in vaccine administration is meant to review the data on the reports and give information to healthcare providers on how to diagnose and treat these rare cases.

Dr Anne Schuchat, the principal CDC director, promised that health experts will be “following the science and ensuring transparence” as they investigate the reports.

“Our intention is to update you in the days ahead,” Schuchat said.

The pause in administration of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine will not significantly affect the country’s vaccine distribution strategy, the White House said.

“This announcement will not have a significant impact on our vaccination plan: Johnson & Johnson vaccine makes up less than 5 percent of the recorded shots in arms in the United States to date,” Jeff Zients, the White House pandemic response coordinator, said in a new statement.

Zients added, “Based on actions taken by the President earlier this year, the United States has secured enough Pfizer and Moderna doses for 300 million Americans. Over the last few weeks, we have made available more than 25 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna each week, and in fact this week we will make available 28 million doses of these vaccines. This is more than enough supply to continue the current pace of vaccinations of 3 million shots per day, and meet the President’s goal of 200 million shots by his 100^th day in office—and continue on to reach every adult who wants to be vaccinated.”

Zients noted the Biden administration is working with state and local officials to get people quickly rescheduled to receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine if they originally planned to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Officials from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will soon hold a briefing on the Johnson & Johnson news, so stay tuned.

Capitol employees are making final arrangements to prepare for today’s ceremony to honor Officer William “Billy” Evans, which will be attended by Joe Biden and congressional leaders.

Two seats have been reserved for Evans’ young children, Logan and Abigail. On their seats, someone placed two models of the Capitol, per an NBC News reporter:

House minority leader Kevin McCarthy reflected on the “courage and sacrifice” of Officer William “Billy” Evans, who will lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda today.

“With heavy hearts and in recognition of his courage and sacrifice, a grateful nation bids farewell to Officer Billy Evans, a true hero,” McCarthy said on Twitter. “His loss is enormous—our prayers are with his two children, his families, and his colleagues in Capitol Police.”

Posters of Officer William “Billy” Evans have been put up around the Capitol as lawmakers prepare to honor the US Capitol Police officer, who was killed on 2 April .

From an NBC News congressional reporter:

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged yesterday that today will be a difficult day for everyone who works in the upper chamber, as they honor Officer William “Billy” Evans.

“For everyone who works in the Senate, his loss is particularly painful,” Schumer said on the Senate floor yesterday.

“He was a familiar face who greeted lawmakers, reporters, staffers and employees at the North entrance as we entered the Senate side of the building. Whether you knew him or not, his wide smile was often the first thing you’d see in the morning.”

Shortly after his death, Evans’ family released a statement describing him as “the best father, son, brother, and friend anyone could ever hope for”.

Greetings from Washington, live blog readers.

Joe Biden will visit the Capitol today to pay his respects to William “Billy” Evans, the US Capitol Police officer who was killed in a car attack earlier this month, as he lies in honor in the Rotunda.

Evans died after an attacker attempted to ram his car through a security barrier at the Capitol and then exited the vehicle wielding a knife. The attacker, identified as Noah Green, was shot and killed by another USCP officer after exiting the car.

After the attack, House speaker Nancy Pelosi called Evans “a martyr for our democracy”. Days later, she and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer announced Evans would lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda.

Evans is the second USCP officer to lie in honor at the Capitol this year. Officer Brian Sicknick, who died of his injuries from the January 6 insurrection, also received the honor in February.

The two events underscore what a tragic and traumatic year this has been for the USCP force, as well as everyone who works at the Capitol.

The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.