President-elect Joe Biden is urging Americans not to become lax in their adherence to public health experts’ guidelines to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
He warned that “even with the changes in approach” he intends to implement once he is sworn in “people are still going to be getting sick and dying from COVID.”
“Our darkest days in the battle against COVID are ahead of us, not behind us, so we need to prepare ourselves, to steel our spines as frustrating as it is to hear. It’s going to take patience, persistence, and determination to beat this virus,” he continued.
He vowed that on day one of his administration, he would work to implement masking requirements, a new testing strategy, and “accelerate protective gear.”
“And we’re going to challenge Congress and the American people to step up immediately, as well, to do their part,” he added.
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BIDEN: "Our darkest days in the battle against covid are ahead of us; not behind us." pic.twitter.com/ScLXuKZjqB
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 22, 2020
Speaking to reporters, Biden addressed his outlook for the virus, “Experts say things will get worse notwithstanding the vaccine.”
“We’re averaging a death rate of close to 3,000 a day. That means we will lose tens of thousands of more lives in the months to come, and the vaccine won’t be able to stop that,” he added as he stressed that Americans need to remain “vigilant” regarding the virus.
Biden has said he will ask Americans to wear face coverings for his first 100 days in office to help stop the spread of COVID-19. He also is seeking to boost confidence in coronavirus vaccines.
On Monday, he received his first dose of the vaccine and said he was doing so to “demonstrate that people should be prepared, when it’s available, to take the vaccine.”
Additionally, he praised the latest round of COVID-19 relief that Congress passed on Monday night.
“It’s far from perfect. But it does provide vital relief at a critical time,” he said, adding, “However, as I have said all along, this bill is just a first step — a down payment — on addressing the crisis we’re in. We have a lot more work to do.”
Biden has previously called the relief package a “down payment” and expressed his belief that Congress will have to pass another round of relief once he is sworn in.