President Joe Biden on Sunday lead the United States’ celebration of its achievements against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, commemorating the lives they lost to it.

The US was also celebrating Fourth of July during the occasion.

Some 1,000 essential workers and military families were hosted by the president and first lady Jill Biden on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday for a barbecue to celebrate the holiday weekend.

Before a lectern, Biden told those in attendance that while they are celebrating the nation’s independence from Britain achieved more than two centuries ago they are also celebrating their near-independence from the pandemic.

“Two-hundred and forty-five years ago we declared our independence from a distant king. Today, we are closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus,” he said. “That’s not to say the battle against Covid-19 is over. We’ve got a lot more work to do.”

He asked those there to look back on where they were a year ago and to think on how far the nation has come – from silent streets to crowded parade routes, from families separated to joyous reunions.

“This year, the Fourth of July is a day of special celebration for we are emerging from the darkness of years — a year of pandemic and isolation. A year of pain, fear and heartbreaking loss,” he said.

He contrasted the nation’s purging of jobs and a smoldering economy under the weight of the pandemic last year to the recent growth both have experience recently that he said “was the best in four decades.”

“Today, all across this nation, we can say with confidence, America is coming back together,” he said.

He continued comparing the United States’ fight for independence to its fight against Covid-19, stating that while the country’s Declaration of Independence of 1776 was a call to action and not a claim of victory or a reason for complacency, the same is true today.

“Back then, we had the power of an idea by our side,” he said. “Today, we have the power of science.”

He urged Americans who have yet to be vaccinated to do so as their patriotic duty as more powerful variants of the virus have emerged.

The White House’s vaccination drive has been a key policy of the Biden administration, with the president having declared on taking office that within 100 days 100 million Americans would be inoculated with the vaccine – a number he increased twice before the deadline, and which was met.

However, the nation failed to meet the goal to have 70 percent of eligible adults nationwide vaccinated with at least one dose by the July Fourth holiday with only 18 states having hit that number.

The vaccine, he said, has given the United States the upper hand against the virus, but they haven’t vanquished it with the best defense they have being Americans inoculated against Covid-19.

“My fellow Americans, it’s the most patriotic thing you can do,” he said. “So please, if you haven’t gotten vaccinated do it, do it now. For yourself, for your loved ones, for you community and for your country.”