President-elect Joe Biden is asking Americans to wear face masks or coverings during his first 100 days in office. He will make the request Inauguration Day Jan. 20.
Speaking with CNN Biden said he would ask Americans to commit to 100 days of wearing masks as one of his first acts as president.
On the campaign trail Biden frequently underscored mask-wearing as a "patriotic duty." He floated the idea of instituting a nationwide mask mandate. Biden, however, later admitted a mandate would be contentious and beyond his ability to enforce.
"On the first day I'm inaugurated, I'm going to ask the public for 100 days to mask," Biden said. "Just 100 days - not forever. Just 100 days. And I think we'll see a significant reduction" in the spread of the coronavirus.
On vaccines that will start being distributed this month Biden said he would be "happy" to be inoculated in public to allay fears about the vaccine's safety and efficacy. Three former presidents - Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton - said they would also get vaccinated publicly to show it was safe.
Biden said President Donald Trump and his administration had expedited the development of vaccines under Operation Warp Speed.
Biden said the proper distribution of vaccines to tens of millions of Americans will be "critically important." "It's a really difficult but doable project, but it has to be well planned, " he said.
Biden said he had a tough job convincing Americans to be inoculated. He promised to instill public confidence in the vaccines despite incorrect stories alleging fatal side effects. "People have lost faith in the ability of the vaccines to work," Biden said. "It matters what a president and the vice president do."
Biden said he had asked the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci to stay on in his administration "in the exact same role he's had for the past several presidents.
He also asked Fauci to be a "chief medical adviser" and part of his COVID-19 advisory team. Biden said he and Fauci spoke about not having to "close down the economy" if Americans follow safety protocols.
"When Dr. Fauci says we have a vaccine that is safe, that's the moment in which I will stand before the public and say that," said Biden.
