President-elect Joe Biden has said that he will ask the American public to wear masks and face coverings during his first 100 days in office in a bid to stem the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Per PEOPLE Magazine, Biden announced his plans in an interview with CNN news anchor Jake Tapper on Thursday, December 3, in which he stated:
"On the first day I’m inaugurated I’m going to ask the public for 100 days to mask. Just 100 days to mask. Not forever, just 100 days. And I think we'll see a significant reduction."
Incumbent POTUS Donald Trump previously mocked Biden over his choice of face-covering:
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Per PEOPLE, Biden also stated that he would retain Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States' top infectious diseases expert, as chief medical adviser to the new administration's COVID-19 team.
Biden stated: "I asked [Fauci] to be a chief medical adviser for me as well, and be part of the COVID team."
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Biden also stated that there needs to be more of a push from the American government to reassure the public as to the benefits of the vaccine, stating:
"People have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work. Already the numbers are really staggeringly low, and it matters what the president and vice president do."
This statement comes just days after former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush all stated that they are willing to take the vaccine for COVID-19 on live television to help build the public's trust in it.
Per CNN, Obama stated:
"If Anthony Fauci tells me this vaccine is safe and can vaccinate, you know, immunize you from getting Covid, absolutely, I'm going to take it."
"I promise you that when it's been made for people who are less at risk, I will be taking it.
"I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed, just so that people know that I trust this science, and what I don't trust is getting Covid."
Meanwhile, Freddy Ford, George Bush's chief of staff, told CNN that the 43rd President had reached out to Dr. Fauci to ask how he could help promote the vaccine's effectiveness.
Ford stated: "A few weeks ago President Bush asked me to let Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx know that, when the time is right, he wants to do what he can to help encourage his fellow citizens to get vaccinated.
"First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations. Then President Bush will get in line for his and will gladly do so on camera."
Finally, Angel Urena, former President Clinton's Press Secretary, told CNN:
"President Clinton will definitely take a vaccine as soon as available to him, based on the priorities determined by public health officials. And he will do it in a public setting if it will help urge all Americans to do the same."