Biden to Sign 10 COVID-Related Executive Orders

Omnia Ahmed

The new US President Joe Biden is going to sign 10 executive orders to combat the COVID-19 pandemic which has killed 400,000 Americans, BBC reported on Thursday.

Biden is going to sign another round of executive orders, related to the pandemic, including requiring mask-wearing in airports and on certain public transportation, according to officials.

Biden warned, in his inauguration speech, that the coronavirus pandemic in the US was entering its "deadliest period."

Biden's COVID-19 task force coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters that under Mr Trump there was no strategy at federal level and a comprehensive approach was lacking.

"As President Biden steps into office today, that all changes," Zients said.

"What we're inheriting is so much worse than we could have imagined," Zients added.

The administration announced a seven-point plan, included efforts to facilitate effective distribution of vaccines and reliable access to testing.

"The American people deserve an urgent, robust and professional response to the growing public health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak," according to an introduction to the plan.

Biden believed the government "must act swiftly and aggressively to help protect and support" essential workers and the most vulnerable.

"The US President will issue a directive including the intent to join the COVAX vaccine facility that aims to deliver vaccines to poor countries," his chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci told the WHO.

Speaking by video call to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Dr Fauci also stressed that the US would continue to provide funding for the WHO, in line with the president move to reverse Trump's decision to leave.

The plan aims at giving 100 million vaccine doses by the end of April, which will help in reopening most schools safely within 100 days, in addition to establishing vaccine centers at stadiums and community facilities.

Vaccination Plan