Biden will push for federal mandate for masks if elected President amid COVID-19 pandemic

Biden said he would federally mandate wearing masks amidst COVID-19 surge if elected president, furthering himself from President Trump on the issue.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said if elected President, he would make wearing a face-covering in public compulsory, furthering himself on the issue from President Donald Trump. The latter has stressed that masks are voluntary and have flouted public health recommendations. Mr. Biden holds that masks make a gigantic difference and want everyone who owns businesses to make using masks compulsory. He further agreed from an executive standpoint, when pressed if he would use federal power to mandate wearing a mask in public.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public to reduce transmission and slow the spread of the coronavirus, which is highly contagious. At least 16 states and the District of Columbia have mandates on wearing cloth face masks in public. Still, masks have become politically divisive as some argue the requirement infringes upon their civil liberties.

Biden's comments come amid a surge in coronavirus cases in several states across the country, with some being forced to pause their reopenings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on 25th June 2020 also said that the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. might be ten times higher than reported.

Despite the advice from public health experts, Trump continues to defy health recommendations. The White House maintains that everyone who comes in contact with the President is tested for coronavirus regularly.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.

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