President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday laid out his three-point plan to combat the coronavirus pandemic, an approach in dealing the virus that continues to contrast with President Donald Trump.
Last week, in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, the President-elect said he will ask Americans to wear masks for the first 100 days after he takes office. On Tuesday, Biden said his administration would prioritize vaccinating health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, as recommended by vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The President-elect also said he would vaccinate educators as soon as possible. Biden introduced the top members of his health team who will lead his administration’s response to the pandemic that has killed more than 284,000 Americans as of Tuesday afternoon, and outlined his team’s first three main objectives. In addition to the goal of at least 100 million vaccine shots, the President-elect reiterated his pledge to sign a masking mandate on his first day in office. While the President can’t unilaterally require every American to wear a mask, under the law Biden said he could require masks in places like federal buildings and on planes, trains and buses for interstate travel. Biden said the third national priority of the health team is to get kids back in school safely.
