Politics

Joe Biden to tell all Americans to wear masks for his first 100 days in office


Joe Biden will tell all Americans to wear a face mask for his first 100 days in office as he looks to distance himself from predecessor Donald Trump’s pandemic approach.

The President-elect intends to hit the ground running after his inauguration on January 20 and believes the measure will “see a significant reduction” in coronavirus cases.

Data suggests one US citizen currently dies every 30 seconds from the virus, with the country leading the world in cases and deaths.

“Just 100 days to mask, not forever. 100 days. And I think we’ll see a significant reduction,” he said.

Speaking to CNN’s Jake Tapper, former senator Biden said he will issue a standing order that masks must be warn in places where he has authority, such as federal buildings and in interstate transportation.



One American dies every 30 seconds from Covid

In what was his first joint interview with VP-elect Kamala Harris since winning the election last month, the veteran public servant said he has asked Dr Anthony Fauci to stay on as chief medical adviser and part of his virus response team.

The infections expert and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has often come to blows with Trump over his pandemic response.

Biden has strenuously followed coronavirus recommendations, leading to jibes from Trump during the election about his constant mask-wearing.



Another surge is expected after millions of Americans travelled across the country for Thanksgiving

The out-going Republican leader, on the other hand, opted to hold huge rallies throughout his 2020 campaign, with crowds of often maskless supporters not abiding by social distancing.

After testing positive for the virus himself, Trump quickly returned to work at the White House and regularly reiterated it was not something Americans should worry too much about.

The billionaire businessman was also often criticised for appearing to put the ailing economy before people’s lives.



Dr Anthony Fauci

Biden, meanwhile, told Tapper his plan is to find a balance between ensuring Americans believe the vaccine to be safe and introducing policies to curb the spread without shutting down the economy.

The former Vice President to Barack Obama added he would be “happy to” publicly get a vaccine jab once Fauci says it is safe, to demonstrate his confidence.

“People have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work,” he said. “Already the numbers are really staggeringly low, and it matters what the President and Vice President do.”

Three former presidents – Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Obama – have all said they will join Biden in getting the vaccine.

“I think that my three predecessors have set the model as to what should be done, saying, once it’s declared to be safe… then obviously we take it and it’s important to communicate to the American people,” the President-elect said.





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