Joe Biden orders masks, travel quarantine in new US war on Covid-19
- President unveils US coronavirus plan, says vaccine roll-out under Donald Trump a ‘dismal failure’
- Dr Anthony Fauci says he feels liberated with Biden after Trump tried to sideline him
Signing 10 executive orders in the White House, Biden told the nation that the Covid-19 death toll would likely rise from 400,000 to half a million next month - and that drastic action was needed.
“We’re in a national emergency. It’s time we treated it like one,” he said, adding that he wants to restore public trust in the wake of the divisive Donald Trump era.
Trump often sought to play down the severity of the virus, which has infected more than 24 million in the United States, the highest numbers anywhere in the world. Millions of Americans have been thrown out of work due to lockdowns.
Scientists, Biden said, will “work free from political interference” under his administration, and he pledged: “We will level with you when we make a mistake.”
In addition to needing a negative Covid test result before flying, travellers to the US will now need to quarantine upon arrival, Biden said. This toughened existing regulations under Trump.
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Covid-19 death toll hits 400,000 in the United States
Biden’s other orders included re-energising a so-far-stumbling vaccination programme and expanding requirements to wear masks on public transport.