WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The White House issued the following transcript of a news briefing via teleconference on Dec. 17, 2021, by the White House COVID-19 response team and public health officials with COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients: * * * MR. ZIENTS: Good morning. And thanks for joining us. Today, Dr. Walensky will give an overview of the state of the pandemic and on new practices that will help keep schools open, and Dr. Fauci will provide an update on the latest science and the   more