Return to normal by July 4?

President Biden on Thursday evening will direct states to make all adults eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine by May 1, with the possibility of an incremental return to normal by the Fourth of July holiday.

States have been enforcing rigid prioritization groups as a way to ration the limited supply of vaccine available, but senior administration officials are confident the nation will soon get a major boost.

During his first primetime address to the nation tonight, Biden will say that because of his administration’s efforts, the country is on track to return to some semblance of normality much earlier than expected.

The path forward: Biden will direct states to make all adults eligible for shots no later than May 1, announce plans to surge vaccinators and increase locations where Americans can get their shot, and preview the creation of a government-run website and call center to help individuals find a vaccine appointment.

Full freedom on the Fourth? Not quite. The administration is still urging people to exercise caution. A senior administration official told reporters the president will talk about small gatherings, like backyard barbecues, not massively crowded events like concerts or baseball games. The threat of the virus will be less, but the public will still likely need to avoid large gatherings by Independence Day and the country’s progress is dependent on continued mask-wearing and widespread vaccinations in the interim.