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Coronavirus pandemic
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Coronavirus: Joe Biden warns ‘more people may die’ if Donald Trump keeps blocking transition

  • President-elect Joe Biden says pandemic must be brought under control for US economy to recover
  • Biden hails positive results for Moderna’s Covid-19 shot and says he ‘wouldn’t hesitate’ to get vaccinated

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US President-elect Joe Biden answers questions from the press in Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday. Photo: AFP
Reuters

President-elect Joe Biden said on Monday that “more people may die” if outgoing President Donald Trump continues blocking a US transition of power as the coronavirus pandemic worsens, and he urged Congress to pass new relief legislation.

Biden said business and labour leaders had signalled willingness to work together to bolster the pandemic-battered US economy but stressed Covid-19 first must be brought under control.

The Democratic president-elect delivered a speech and took questions from reporters in Wilmington, Delaware, after consulting jointly with the CEOs of top US companies and labour leaders on Monday. He welcomed further progress in Covid-19 vaccine development.

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Biden will inherit an economy that has suffered millions of job losses during a pandemic that has killed more than 246,000 people in the United States. US Covid-19 cases are surging as Biden prepares to take office on January 20.

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Joe Biden warns ‘more people may die’ if Donald Trump hinders US presidential transition

Joe Biden warns ‘more people may die’ if Donald Trump hinders US presidential transition

“We’re going into a very dark winter. Things are going to get much tougher before they get easier,” Biden said of the pandemic.

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