Joe Biden is going to ask the American people to wear a mask for the first 100 days he is in office. He made the proclamation today during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper:
“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.”
Biden says in federal buildings and any place the federal government has authority (including on airplanes) that he will make mask-wearing mandatory. That would go into effect on January 20th.
It’s believed he isn’t calling this a nationwide mask mandate because enforcing such an order would be up to individual states.
This marks a major shift from Donald Trump’s stance on masks or lack of one. While Trump has largely ignored advice about masks, Biden is listening to the experts. Back in September, CDC director Robert Redfield offered this testimony on Capitol Hill:
“These face masks are the most important, powerful health tool we have and I will continue to appeal to all Americans, all individuals in our country to embrace these face coverings. I’ve said it, if we did it for 6, 8, 10, 12 weeks we’d bring this pandemic under control.“