Biden to speak with governors, mayors about mask mandate: report
Biden is already busy, on a mission to address the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic that's killed over 238,000 Americans.
Joe Biden, the new president-elect of the nation, has made it clear that his first mission is to address the ongoing threat of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 238,000 Americans.
Campaign officials spoke to NBC News, saying that in the first week after his election, Biden is reaching out to governors and mayors across the country to have his say about a nationwide mask mandate.
“If a governor declines, he’ll go to the mayors in the state and ask them to lead,” a Biden adviser told the outlet. “In many states, there is the capacity of mayors to institute mandates.”
Throughout his presidential campaign, Biden has reiterated that he intends to make the COVID-19 pandemic his first concern.
Read More: Biden cheers vaccine progress but says masks remain a must
The former vice president made clear his approach to immediately address the pandemic in October, consulting medical advisers and laying out a plan that includes coronavirus testing, contact tracing and vaccines.
“Daily cases are skyrocketing,” Biden said during remarks Friday evening in Wilmington, Delaware, an address delivered at a drive-through style gathering his campaign used to safely connect with voters. “I want everyone — everyone — to know on Day One, we’re going to put our plan to control this virus into action.”
Read More: HUD Secretary Ben Carson tests positive for COVID-19
The remarks came the day before he was projected as the president-elect.
Biden’s coronavirus task force will be led by Dr. Vivek Murthy, a former surgeon general, and Dr. David Kessler, who led the FDA during the 1990s, according to NBC News.
President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris conducted a coronavirus briefing online Monday.
Read More: Pfizer says early data signals COVID-19 vaccine is effective
“@JoeBiden and I are ready to get COVID-19 under control. We’re ready to rebuild our economy. We’re ready to meet the challenges of the climate crisis. We’re ready to act to address systemic racism. And we’re ready to fight for you,” Harris tweeted.
President-elect Biden has created what he is calling a COVID-19 Council.
“Today, I have named a COVID-19 Transition Advisory Board, comprised of distinguished public health experts, to help our transition team translate the Biden-Harris COVID-19 plan into a blueprint we can put into place as soon as @KamalaHarris and I are sworn into office,” he wrote.
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