To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Joe Biden Will Ask Americans To Wear Face Masks For 100 Days After He's Inaugurated

Joe Biden Will Ask Americans To Wear Face Masks For 100 Days After He's Inaugurated

It's a remarkably different take on the pandemic compared to Donald Trump.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Joe Biden has declared he will ask Americans to wear a face mask for 100 days after he takes over the White House.

His predecessor, Donald Trump, has largely resisted calls for a national mandate on face coverings to help stop the spread of the coronavirus and has avoided wearing one in public at times.

However, the President-elect will be taking a drastically different approach.

Speaking to CNN, Biden said: "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."

PA

Face masks have long been touted as an effective way at stopping droplets from being spread into the air where others can become infected.

In addition to that, he will make Dr Anthony Fauci America's chief medical officer as well as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious.

Biden said Fauci would serve 'in the exact same role he's had for the past several presidents'.

Trump downplayed Fauci's authority during the coronavirus pandemic and even came close to suggesting he should be fired as the country's top infectious diseases expert.

Joe Biden has also said he's happy to receive the coronavirus vaccine on live television to prove it's safe.

"People have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work...it matters what a president and the vice president do," he said.

It follows a pledge from Barack Obama, George Bush and Bill Clinton saying they would be willing to do the same thing to send a clear message to Americans.

Mr Obama said in a chat with SiriusXM that if America's top infectious diseases expert tells him the vaccine is safe then he will be happy to take it.

PA

"People like Anthony Fauci, who I know, and I've worked with, I trust completely," Obama said. "So, if Anthony Fauci tells me this vaccine is safe, and can vaccinate, you know, immunise 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."

George Bush's chief of staff, Freddy Ford, told CNN: "A few weeks ago President Bush asked me to let Dr. Fauci and [the White House coronavirus response coordinator] 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."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: joe biden, News