President-elect Joe Biden said recently that he wants Americans to become accustomed to wearing face masks and that he predicts that masks will be necessary during the first 100 days of his presidency.
During an interview on the “Today” show, infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci agreed with Biden but said that might not be enough.
Biden told CNN on Thursday, “It is important that we, in fact, the president and the vice president, we set the pattern by wearing masks. But beyond that, where the federal government has authority, I’m going to issue a standing order that in federal buildings, you have to be masked.”
He added, “My inclination 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. One-hundred days.”
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Asked about that timeline, Fauci said, “No, no, he didn’t mean it that way. I spoke to him about that. What he wants, he just wants — and it’s a good idea — uniform. He’s saying, ‘Hey folks, trust me, everybody for 100 days’.”
Fauci continued, “Now it might be that after that, we’re still going to need it, but he just wants it, everybody for a commitment for 100 days. And I discussed that with him and I told him I thought that was a good idea.”
Fauci was also asked about Biden’s request that the physician stays on as the chief medical advisor in the Biden administration. The expert said, “Oh absolutely, I said yes right on the spot, yeah.”
Watch Fauci’s interview below:
Will you accept President-elect Biden's offer to serve as his chief medical adviser? –@SavannahGuthrie
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 4, 2020
Absolutely, I said yes right on the spot. -Dr. Anthony Fauci pic.twitter.com/lHr3z1v3vo
During his interview on CNN, Biden recalled his conversation with Fauci, saying, “I asked him to stay on in the exact same role he’s had for the past several presidents and I asked him to be chief medical adviser for me as well and be part of the COVID team.”