As Trump leaves office, so does the indifference to the COVID-19 pandemic faced by the entire nation and President Biden makes a vow to change the government’s response on his first day as POTUS.
As a part of the first wave of executive actions by Biden, all federal employees will be required to wear masks and make face coverings mandatory on federal property. Additionally and probably most importantly, the President will establish a new White House office to coordinate the coronavirus response and immediately stop the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization, a process initially facilitated by former President Donald Trump.
Biden’s Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken confirmed that the United States would be joining the COVAX alliance, a union of more than 190 countries spearheaded by the WHO that will ensure that poor countries receive fair access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Many critics believe that Trump’s lack of proper response to the virus has resulted in over 400K deaths as he left office, the worst health calamity the country has faced in over 100 years.
After President Biden took his oath of office, he offered a moment of silence for those who have lost their lives to the coronavirus.
“We’re entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus and must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation,” Biden said.
