In an interview with CNN on Thursday, President-elect Joe Biden asked Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to stay on as the chief medical advisor.
What We Know:
- Biden went on to mention that starting January 20, he will urge Americans to wear face masks to limit the spread of the virus. He states he will use his authority to require masks to be worn in federal buildings and on interstate transportation. “Just 100 days to mask, not forever, 100 days. And I think we’ll see a significant reduction,” Biden said.
- Dr. Fauci and President Donald Trump often clashed on the White House’s pandemic response. Along with asking him to stay on, Biden also asked Fauci to be apart of his “Covid team.”
- Biden said he would be “happy” to publicly take the coronavirus vaccine to promote trust in the vaccine. Former presidents Brack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton have also agreed to take the vaccine publically to encourage Americans.
“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,” Biden said.
- He discussed supporting a compromised coronavirus relief package within his interview before he takes office, and he noted that several Republican senators who publicly haven’t acknowledged his victory have reached out to congratulate him.
Before he takes office, Biden is making it a point to ensure his team’s response to the spread of Covid-19 is effective.
