In an effort to curb the rising cases of COVID-19 infections in the United State of America that has claimed over 400,000 lives, the newly sworn in President, Joe Biden on his first day in office took a series of executive actions which includes implementing a national mask mandate on federal property.
Joe Biden who was sworn in yesterday along his Vice President Kamala Harris is the 46th President of the United States.
Biden had already outlined his three key goals for his first 100 days in office when he unveiled choices of his health team in December with his plans including offering at least 100 million vaccination shots within that timeframe, and requiring masks wherever he can mandate them, such as in federal buildings.
So, the US President shortly after been inaugurated wasted on time in signing his first executive order, the “100 Days Masking Challenge,” which mandates Americans to wear masks for 100 days and requires their use on federal property.
According to the President’s counselor Jeff Zients, “This executive action will direct the agencies to take action to require compliance with CDC guidance on mask wearing and physical distancing in federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors.”
“And the president will call on governors, public health officials, mayors, business leaders and others to implement masking, physical distancing and other public measures to control COVID-19,” Zients added.
“This is not a political statement. This is about the health of our families, and the economic recovery of our country.”
This will see a change in the era of former President Donald Trump who never mandated the use of face mask as advised by experts in his administration.
Biden signed a total of 15 executive orders on his first day as he tweeted that “There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face.”
Halting the process begun by the Trump administration of withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) and rejoining the 2015 Paris climate agreement were part of the executive order signed by the President.
President Biden also revokes a permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline and reversed a travel ban from several largely Muslim and African countries. Other executive orders signed covers race and gender equality.
